Iran war day 15: US strikes Tehran and Kharg Island as the Iranian regime escalates regional attacks

2026-03-14 - 21:54

As the war between the Iranian regime, Israel, and the United States enters its 15th day on March 14, 2026, the conflict has seen one of its most significant escalations. Following a day where the regime tripled its suppressive street patrols in fear of explosive domestic uprisings, the US military launched major overnight operations targeting the regime’s military infrastructure in Tehran and its critical oil export hub on Kharg Island. The newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public and is reportedly wounded and disfigured from earlier strikes, now has a massive US bounty on his head. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime continues escalating regional attacks, launching strikes on the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and threatening European nations as the global impact of the crisis widens. Roundup of today’s key events US forces deployed B-2 stealth bombers to strike targets in Tehran and bombed over 90 military targets on Kharg Island, leaving oil infrastructure intact but threatening to destroy it if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. The IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz “prohibited” and threatened US military positions and ports in the UAE, resulting in a drone attack on the UAE’s Fujairah port that suspended oil-loading operations. The US State Department offered a $10 million bounty for information on the Iranian regime’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and other senior IRGC and security officials. Explosions rocked the Qatari capital of Doha, forcing the evacuation of major American economic and educational hubs after the regime declared them legitimate targets. The US and UK are moving more warships and thousands of Marines to the Middle East to defend commercial shipping and counter the regime’s maritime threats. An Iran-backed militia struck the US Embassy in Baghdad following targeted strikes that killed senior Kata’ib Hezbollah commanders in the Iraqi capital. Explosions were reported in the industrial zone of Tabriz after the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for the area. According to the Pentagon, the US and Israel have attacked 15,000 targets so far. At least 1,444 people have been killed in Iran since the war began on February 28. US B-2 stealth bombers strike Tehran and Kharg Island On the night of March 13 and into the early hours of March 14, US Central Command (CENTCOM) deployed B-2 stealth bombers to deliver long-range strikes against the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure. Explosions were reported across Tehran, including in the Nobonyad area and around Azadi Square, causing temporary power outages and activating air defense systems. B-2 stealth bombers takeoff to conduct a mission during Operation Epic Fury, delivering long-range fire to not only eliminate the threat from the Iranian regime today, but also eliminate their ability to rebuild in the future. pic.twitter.com/ebyUYNnOLo — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026 Simultaneously, the US struck over 90 military targets on Kharg Island, the regime’s primary oil export hub. US President Donald Trump stated that US forces “totally obliterated every military target” on the island but deliberately left the oil infrastructure intact. However, he warned that this infrastructure would be destroyed if the regime does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Following a period of silence, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency confirmed the attack, reporting that more than 15 explosions were heard on the island and thick smoke covered the sky, though it claimed air defenses were undamaged. Additionally, footage captured strikes on the regime’s Space Research Institute in Tehran. Regime escalates regional attacks targeting the UAE and Qatar In retaliation to the Kharg Island strikes, the IRGC declared the Strait of Hormuz completely off-limits, stating that any transiting vessel would be targeted. True to their threat, the regime launched a drone attack on the UAE’s Fujairah emirate, a major crude export terminal. Debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire, forcing the suspension of some oil-loading operations. The IRGC has warned residents to evacuate areas near the Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah, asserting that any US military positions in the UAE are legitimate targets. The regime’s aggression also extended to Qatar. In the early hours of March 14, explosions were heard in Doha as Qatari air defenses intercepted two projectiles over the city center. Qatari authorities ordered immediate evacuations of crucial areas linked to US economic interests, including “Education City”—which hosts several American university campuses—and the Msheireb district, home to major international companies like Google and American Express. Furthermore, the regime’s UN ambassador in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, openly threatened European nations, stating that any European military base used against the Iranian regime would be considered a “legitimate target.” Allied forces prepare massive naval deployments for the Strait of Hormuz As the Iranian regime’s blockade continues to impact global markets, allied forces are preparing to break the blockade. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stressed that the US will not allow the vital waterway to remain contested. To bolster security, the US is moving an amphibious ready group and a Marine expeditionary unit, consisting of around 5,000 personnel led by the USS Tripoli, to the Middle East. President Trump noted that the US Navy will “soon” begin escorting commercial tankers through the Strait. Additionally, the UK is weighing military options, including deploying autonomous mine-clearing vessels and potentially utilizing HMS Dragon, a heavily armed Type 45 destroyer currently heading to the region. US places bounties on top regime officials In a major diplomatic and security move, the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has announced bounties of up to $10 million for information leading to the Iranian regime’s top leadership. The wanted list prominently features the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, alongside Ali Asghar Hejazi (deputy chief of staff to the slain former supreme leader Ali Khamenei), top security official Ali Larijani, Yahya Rahim Safavi, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, and Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. The bounty also targets the unnamed commander-in-chief of the IRGC and the secretary of the Supreme Defense Council. Got information on these Iranian terrorist leaders? Send us a tip. It could make you eligible for a reward and relocation. pic.twitter.com/y7avkqdGWw — Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) March 13, 2026 Militia commanders killed and US Embassy targeted in Baghdad Iraq remains a volatile frontline in the war. In the early hours of March 14, targeted airstrikes in Baghdad struck the operational headquarters of the Iran-backed Kata’ib Hezbollah in the Arasat neighborhood, killing a key commander and injuring others. A second strike in eastern Baghdad later destroyed a vehicle, killing another commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/Hashd al-Shaabi). Shortly after these assassinations, an Iran-backed militia fired a projectile at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iraqi security sources confirmed the missile struck the helicopter landing pad inside the massive diplomatic compound, marking the second time the embassy has been hit since the war started. Meanwhile, a separate drone targeting an American diplomatic facility near Baghdad’s airport was successfully shot down. Explosions in Tabriz following Israeli military warnings Domestically, the regime’s infrastructure continues to take heavy hits. On March 14, explosions were heard in the eastern and southern outskirts of Tabriz. The blasts occurred just hours after the Israeli military issued a warning in Persian on social media, complete with maps, urging residents to evacuate the Tabriz industrial zone. The Israeli military indicated it would carry out operations similar to those that previously destroyed military infrastructure in Tehran. Authorities of the Iranian regime have maintained silence regarding the casualties and extent of the damage in Tabriz.