US Iran war news Highlights: US military plane declared emergency before crash in Iraq; fresh explosions in Tehran

US Iran war LIVE: Sirens have been sounded across Tel Aviv in Israel. As per the IDF, it is intercepting a fresh missile barrage from Iran

US Iran war LIVE: A Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker of the US Air Force went down near Turaibil along the Iraqi-Jordanian border, an Iraqi intelligence source told CBS News.

However, as per Flightradar24 data showed a KC-135 tanker had earlier declared an emergency before landing in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday evening.

The US military aircraft went down in Iraqi airspace, US Central Command said on Thursday.

US Iran war LIVE: US President Donald Trump has suggested that Iran's national soccer team should withdraw from the upcoming FIFA World Cup as a personal safety measure.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns, that Iran is welcome to play this summer in the United States, "but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Each of Iran's three group stage matches is scheduled to take place on American soil.

US Iran war LIVE: A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, a military aircraft designed to refuel other planes mid-air, crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident U.S. Central ‌Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or ​friendly fire.

The United States Air Force's primary aerial refueling capability is provided by the KC-135 Stratotanker, which has performed admirably in this capacity for over 60 years, according to the Air Force website.

US Iran war LIVE: Since the start of the war between US-Israel and Iran, Bahrain’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed 114 missiles and 190 drones targeting the kingdom.

US Iran war LIVE: The US Central Command said on Thursday that it was carrying out rescue efforts after it lost a military aircraft in "friendly airspace" in Iraq during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

"Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely," the military said, adding that the incident was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.

US Iran war LIVE: Fresh explosions were heard in Tehran and other Iranian cities as the US-Iran war escalates. Videos on social media show plumes of black smoke in Tehran and Karaj, which is the west of the Iranian capital.

US Iran war LIVE: As the conflict between US-Israel and Iran spreads to the wider West Asia region, at least six French soldiers were injured after a drone attack in Iraq.

As per Reuters, security sources in Erbil said that drone attack took place at the joint Peshmerga-France base in Makhmour in northern Iraq

US Iran war LIVE: In a message read out by a state TV broadcaster, Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, called for leveraging the Strait of Hormuz and avenging the death of ‘martyrs.’ Here are some of the key takeaways from his statement -

• He said the Strait of Hormuz should stay closed and be used as leverage against the enemy as a tool of pressure.
• Khamenei vowed to avenge those killed in the war, including in a strike on a school. ‘Iran will not refrain from avenging the blood of its martyrs,’ Khamenei said.
• He said Iran would “obtain compensation” from its enemy, referring to the United States. If it refuses, Iran will “take from its assets” or destroy them to the same extent, he said.
• He asserted that the ‘Resistance Front’ is an inseparable part of the Islamic Revolution’s values and thanked the fighters of the ‘Resistance Front,’ describing them as Iran’s best friends.
• "A limited amount of this revenge has so far taken concrete form, but until it is fully achieved, this case will remain among our priorities," Khamenei said.

US Iran war LIVE: Addressing an event at the White House to mark Women’s History Month, US President Donald Trump briefly said the war in Iran is “coming along very well”.

Middle East war LIVE: As the conflict escalates, Iran has threatened to 'set region's oil and on fire' if attacks on its energy infrastructure from US and Israel continue.

Middle East war LIVE: Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting that Israeli war jets are currently targeting the southern district of Beirut.

Middle East war LIVE: The Israeli military has announced it has launched an “extensive wave” of strikes across the Iranian capital. More details are yet to come from the IDF.

Middle East war LIVE: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry has said alarms have been activated and has urged its citizens to seek shelter.

Middle East war LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the escalating tensions in West Asia. Taking to X, the BJP leader reiterated India's commitment to peace and stability in the region.

“Had a conversation with Iranian President, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the serious situation in the region. Expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the loss of civilian lives as well as damage to civilian infrastructure,” Modi wrote on X.

Middle East war LIVE: Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi has summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires for a meeting after Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for a coordinated missile attack with Hezbollah on Israel.

"Rejecting any interference in Lebanon's internal affairs, I have summoned the Iranian Charge d'Affaires to the Ministry tomorrow," Raggi said on X on Thursday.

Middle East war LIVE: The Israeli military said on Thursday that its aircraft struck Basij checkpoints in Tehran.

"The IDF (Israel Defence forces) recently identified that soldiers of the Basij Unit had established roadblocks in several locations across Tehran. After identifying the deployment, over the past day, the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence, has targeted the Basij roadblocks and operatives," the military said.

Middle East war LIVE: Israel said Thursday that, given Beirut’s failure, it would expand the campaign, which has so far killed hundreds and displaced nearly one million people.

“I warned the Lebanese president that if the Lebanese government does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern communities and firing at Israel — we will take the territory and do it ourselves,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

Middle East war LIVE: Saudi Arabia intercepted three drones headed towards the Shaybah oil field on Thursday, as Iran targeted the facility again in its campaign to disrupt global energy markets.

The Gulf kingdom's defence ministry said an "unmanned aerial vehicle heading towards the Shaybah field... was intercepted and destroyed".

Earlier the ministry said two drones heading towards the same field were similarly destroyed, announcing the interception in a separate post on X.

Middle East war LIVE: Iran on Thursday said that after the current events, it cannot return to conditions before February 28, referring to the start of its war with US and Iran.

"We have understood how important the safety of the Strait of Hormuz is, and so did the others," the spokesperson added.

Middle East war LIVE: Israel's military said on Thursday that Hezbollah had fired around 200 rockets at Israel the night before, in what it described as the Lebanese armed group's "biggest barrage" since the war began.

"Last night, Hezbollah timed a simultaneous attack with Iran, firing rockets and drones at towns and communities across Israel," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told journalists in a briefing.

Middle East war LIVE: Iran deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that he wants to ensure that a war will not be imposed on it again in the future.

"We want to see that war is not going to be imposed again on Iran," said Takht-Ravanchi in an interview with AFP in Tehran.

"When the war started last June, after 12 days there was so called cessation of hostilities... but after eight or nine months, they regrouped and they did it again," he said, referring to the US and Israel.

Middle East war LIVE: Israel renewed its strikes on Beirut on Thursday, as it threatened to expand operations and seize territory in Lebanon if Hezbollah did not stop its attacks.

The Israeli military issued a call to evacuate ahead of the Beirut attack, after having also widened its evacuation warning for residents in southern Lebanon to include areas below the Zahrani river, around 40 kilometres north of Israel.

Middle East war LIVE: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Thursday said that it has struck 6,000 targets since the start of war. According to an overview released , CENTCOM forces are striking sites considered imminent threats. The operation began at 1:15 am on February 28, 2026, and is being carried out across Iran.

Officials say approximately 6,000 targets have been struck so far, while more than 90 Iranian vessels, including over 60 ships and more than 30 minelayers, have been damaged or destroyed.

Middle East war LIVE: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday said that ships can still pass through Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian Navy.

This came amid Iran's intensified strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and earlier said that ships will require permission to cross.