An F-35A Lightning II takes off from an undisclosed location in support of Operation Epic Fury. (U.S. Air Force)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This report was updated Friday, March 13, 2026.
U.S. forces across the Middle East continued to endure air raid sirens and explosions as Operation Epic Fury approached the end of its second week.
Iran has fired counterstrikes at more than a dozen nations since the start of the war, targeting both military and civilian infrastructure. U.S. forces, meanwhile, have struck approximately 6,000 targets throughout Iran and crippled the country’s leadership.
On Thursday, an Air force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members aboard, U.S. Central Command said. Rescue efforts for the remaining crew members continue.
Including the tanker crew, a total of 13 U.S. service members have been killed so far in the operation. The Pentagon said earlier this week approximately 140 service members had been wounded, eight of them bearing serious injuries. The majority had returned to duty.
The small island nation, home to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters, continued to warn residents of incoming fire early Friday.
Since the start of the war, Bahrain air defenses have intercepted and destroyed 115 ballistic missiles and 191 drones, according to the country’s official news agency.
Dozens of drones and missiles have targeted military and civilian infrastructure on the island nation, which typically hosts some 8,300 sailors and their families.
The attacks have targeted high-rise residential buildings, hotels, a water desalination plant and the U.S. base, and caused damage to the surrounding neighborhood.
On Tuesday, a 29-year-old Bahraini woman died and eight people were injured as a result of Iranian attacks on a residential building in the capital of Manama, authorities said. Another man, described as an Asian worker, was killed on March 2 as a result of falling debris from an intercepted missile, according to the Bahrain Interior Ministry.
The U.S. naval base appears to have taken extensive damage following several days of Iranian missiles and drone attacks. Iran struck the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, as well as multiple warehouses and satellite dishes on base.
It’s unclear how many, if any, U.S. troops were on base during the attacks. U.S. Central Command has not reported any deaths or injuries out of Bahrain. Military dependents located on the island have been ordered to depart.
The Bahrain International Airport remained closed as of Friday, and the U.S. Embassy was encouraging Americans to take overland routes to Saudi Arabia, which is offering commercial flights.
The USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups are in the region and represent the vanguard of one of the largest buildups of U.S. naval power in the Middle East in recent years.
Iranian drones struck the Kuwait International Airport and a residential building early Thursday, authorities said, which wounded two people.
The airport was damaged, but no one was injured, according to Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority.
Six Army reservists assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) were killed in a drone attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on the second day of Operation Epic Fury. The unit is based in Des Moines, Iowa. The incident remains under investigation.
● Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Fla.
● Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Neb.
● Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minn.
● Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.
● Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa.
● Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, Calif.
Kuwait air defenses on March 1 mistakenly shot down three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles. All six U.S. crew members were safely recovered and sustained no major injuries, CENTCOM said.
Qatar’s Defense Ministry said it continued to intercept Iranian missiles on Thursday.
A pair of Iranian fighter planes flying less than 100 feet above the ground came within minutes of hitting Al Udeid, the U.S. military’s largest base in the Middle East, CNN reported last week.
The incident, which happened on the morning of March 2, involved two Russian-made Su-24 bombers that were headed toward the base. Qatar dispatched American-made F-15 fighters, which were able to down the Iranian planes.
Al Udeid, located about 25 miles outside the capital Doha, is the forward deployed headquarters for U.S. Air Forces Central Command and typically hosts some 10,000 service members.
The U.S. Embassy in Doha was offering overland and air options to Americans wishing to leave Qatar, as of Wednesday. Limited commercial flights were operating out of Qatar.
A building in Dubai’s financial district sustained damage Friday after what authorities said was a “successful interception.” Iran earlier this week had said it would target banks and financial institutions.
Dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones have targeted parts of the United Arab Emirates, which hosts U.S. Air Force and Army assets at Al Dhafra Air Base.
The UAE has been Iran’s “main target” in its retaliation campaign, the U.S. embassy said.
A total of 1,567 drones, 15 cruise missiles and 285 ballistic missiles have been detected in the UAE as of Friday, the country’s defense ministry said. The majority of those have been intercepted, but at least two missiles and 90 drones have made impact on land.
The attacks have resulted in six deaths. The victims were Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals. The hostilities have caused at least 141 cases of minor injuries, UAE officials said. No Americans were listed among those hurt.
U.S. and Jordanian officials have reported ongoing threats from missiles and drones in the country since combat operations began in late February.
The U.S. Embassy in Amman was temporarily evacuated due to a threat last week, and U.S. officials have ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel and family members.
Jordan’s airspace remains open, with flights departing from Queen Alia International Airport daily, the embassy said.
The U.S. has sent dozens of attack aircraft to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base over the past month. The base is a key hub for U.S. air power in the region.
Six U.S. service members died when a KC-135 Stratotanker went down in Western Iraq on Thursday evening.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the incident occurred over friendly territory and was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. The investigation is ongoing.
The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is strongly encouraging Americans to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so. Those who do not choose to leave should be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods, the embassy added.
Iran and its proxy militia groups have continued to pose a threat to Americans, the embassy said.
There have been attacks against U.S. citizens and U.S. interests in Iraq, and Americans face the risk of kidnapping, the embassy added. American businesses, hotels frequented by foreigners, and other facilities in Iraq, including those with U.S. ties, have been attacked.
Commercial flights were not operating out of Iraq as of Thursday. Most land routes to Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia remained open, but could close on short notice, the embassy said.
Saudi officials continued to report incoming drone and missile attacks as of Friday, with attacks targeting its oil-rich region.
Saudi officials said Friday its defenses downed 10 drones heading toward the Eastern and Central Provinces.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by two drones last week, resulting in a limited fire and minor material damage to the building, the Saudi defense ministry said. Eight drones were intercepted near the cities of Riyadh and Al-Kharj, the ministry said.
The U.S. Embassy closed on last week until further notice due to an attack on the facility and recommended that all Americans in the country shelter in place.
Commercial flights were operating out of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran as of Friday, but with significant cancellations and prolonged operational delays, according to the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
