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Day 13 of Iran War: Supreme Leader Delivers First Message, Regional Attacks Intensify in Middle East
Iran's Supreme Leader Delivers First Message Amid Regional Escalation
As the Iran War enters its 13th day, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has delivered his first official message since assuming power. His message, read by a spokesperson, declared a strong resolve to avenge the blood of 'martyrs' killed in Israeli airstrikes and to continue the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. While there had been speculation regarding Khamenei's health, the message contained no specific mention of it. This message suggests that Iran has entered a new phase of the war, further escalating regional tensions.
In the Gulf, three more cargo vessels were attacked, bringing the total number of damaged vessels to 16 since the war began on February 28. Two oil tankers were hit near Basra, Iraq, and one container ship near the UAE. In Dubai, a high-rise building was struck by a drone, and a UAE military helicopter was seen intercepting another drone. Oil facilities at Salalah port in nearby Oman also ceased operations after a drone attack. Israel continued its large-scale airstrikes on internal Iranian facilities, including Tehran, with Iranian authorities reporting over 1,300 fatalities.
Airstrikes in Lebanon and Controversy Over Iranian School Attack
Intensive Israeli airstrikes also continued in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, to which Hezbollah responded by firing over 200 rockets. At least eight people died on the Beirut coastline due to Israeli airstrikes. Furthermore, the British military shot down two Iranian drones launched at a Western coalition base in Erbil, Iraq, with several US military personnel injured in the attack, though no British military casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, the US Senate Democrats demanded answers from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hexef regarding the February 28 attack on a school in Minab, Iran. Iranian authorities stated that 168 people, including 110 children, were killed in this attack. US media raised the possibility of US military responsibility, but US President Donald Trump claimed Iran was responsible. Released footage shows US Tomahawk missiles striking a military base near the school, prompting calls for an investigation into the truth. The UN reported that 3.2 million internally displaced people have emerged in Iran, with most fleeing from urban areas.
*Source: YouTube: BBC News (2026-03-12)*
