Sirens were heard at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base near Adana late Friday night, prompting a red alert at the NATO facility where U.S. troops are stationed. Residents of Adana, located about 10 kilometers from the base, reported being awakened around 3:25 a.m. by the alarm, which lasted approximately five minutes. Fire and security sirens were also heard across the city. The incident occurred days after NATO air defense forces intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward Turkey. According to Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense, one missile was destroyed by NATO’s air and missile defense units deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, and debris fell in an empty field in Gaziantep province without causing casualties. This was the second missile interception within five days. NATO confirmed it had downed another missile from Iran earlier in the week and warned Turkey against taking retaliatory measures toward Tehran. The U.S. announced the temporary closure of its consulate in Adana and urged American citizens to leave southeastern Turkey.

A wave of mourning has swept through Mongla in Bagerhat after nine members of the same family were found dead on Friday, March 13, 2026. The bodies were placed side by side in the courtyard of their home on Sattar Lane, where only days earlier the family had celebrated a wedding. Relatives, neighbors, and people from distant areas gathered at the house, many weeping or standing silently in shock as the atmosphere turned heavy with grief. According to family members, the tragedy struck while the family was returning home with the newlywed bride after the wedding festivities. The bodies were brought from Khulna and Rampal in Bagerhat late Thursday night and kept at the family home in Mongla. The courtyard, once filled with joy, has now become a place of deep sorrow. Residents described the incident as one of the most heartbreaking events Mongla has ever witnessed, leaving the entire community in mourning.

Reports from Iranian and Israeli media indicate that Israel’s laser-controlled air defense system, known as ‘Iron Radiation,’ has failed to intercept recent Iranian missile attacks. According to the Israeli publication Globes, the system, which was expected to protect northern Israel and occupied Palestinian territories from new-generation Iranian missiles, proved ineffective during a major Iranian strike on Tuesday night. The report described Israel’s efforts to counter the missiles as a nightmare scenario. Globes further criticized Israel’s so-called ‘defense revolution,’ noting that the system could not even stop drones launched by Hezbollah. Despite being heavily promoted as a breakthrough technology worth several hundred million shekels, the system failed to perform as promised. The publication suggested that the weakness of the ‘Iron Radiation’ system was a key reason behind Israel’s inability to repel the Iranian assault. The failure raises questions about Israel’s air defense capabilities against advanced missile threats from Iran and its regional allies, as highlighted in the report.

The Trump administration is struggling to manage an escalating crisis after miscalculating Iran’s response to U.S. military aggression. According to the report, Washington officials, including Energy Minister Chris Wright, had expressed confidence that a conflict with Iran would not disrupt Middle Eastern oil supplies or global energy markets. However, Iran has now threatened attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Hormuz Strait, halting shipments from Gulf countries and driving up oil prices. The situation has forced the U.S. government to take emergency measures, including evacuating embassy staff from the region and drafting policies to stabilize fuel prices. During a closed briefing to Congress, Senator Christopher S. Murphy said the administration lacked a clear plan to reopen the strait or end the conflict. Some officials reportedly feel frustrated by the absence of a coherent exit strategy, though they remain cautious about voicing dissent as President Trump continues to claim military success. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated that the administration had a firm plan before the war and expects oil prices to fall once the conflict ends, describing Iran’s market disruption as temporary.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to kill Iran’s new supreme leader, saying that neither Iran’s new Ayatollah nor Hezbollah’s leader should expect any guarantee of safety. He made the remarks during his first press conference since the start of the war, while defending Israel’s joint military operation with the United States against Iran. Netanyahu stated that Israel’s objective was to prevent Iran from moving its nuclear and ballistic projects underground. He claimed that the attacks, which began on February 28, stopped Iran from relocating those programs. According to him, nearly two weeks of strikes have killed top Iranian nuclear scientists and inflicted heavy losses on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij forces. The report also mentioned that Iran’s new supreme leader remains alive but seriously injured, as stated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

US Senator Lindsey Graham has dismissed the possibility of deploying American ground troops in Iran, saying such a move is unnecessary. Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., the Republican senator stated that the ongoing conflict is expected to continue for several more weeks. He emphasized that the war’s objective is to ensure Iran cannot resume uranium production, destroy its missile development capabilities, and prevent it from reviving its nuclear program. Graham noted that the conflict is not nearing an immediate end and that achieving these goals will take additional time. He added that the situation would be reassessed after several weeks of operations. His remarks come as tensions remain high in the region, with reports of related incidents in Iraq and Oman. The senator’s comments, reported by Al Jazeera, underline a strategic focus on targeted military objectives rather than a full-scale ground deployment in Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran has suffered major losses from joint Israeli and US attacks, asserting that his country is becoming stronger. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he declared that 'Iran is no longer the same Iran,' marking his first public comment on the ongoing conflict with Tehran. Netanyahu said that the strikes, which began on February 28, killed top Iranian nuclear scientists and inflicted heavy damage on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces. He claimed that Iran failed to move its nuclear and ballistic programs underground before the attacks began. When asked about Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, Netanyahu said he would not take out 'life insurance' for them, implying no guarantees for their safety. He described Khamenei as a 'puppet of the Revolutionary Guard' who cannot appear publicly. Recently, Khamenei’s remarks were read on Iranian state television by a news presenter. The comments underscore Israel’s portrayal of recent operations as a strategic success against Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.

U.S. officials told The New York Times that Iran began laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, a vital maritime route through which about 20 percent of global oil supply—around 31 million barrels of crude daily—passes. The move reportedly surprised the Trump administration, even as President Donald Trump publicly claimed that U.S. forces had destroyed Iran’s navy. According to CNN, senior Trump administration officials privately told lawmakers that they had not previously considered the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks. A former U.S. official who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations said that planning to prevent such a scenario had long been a core principle of U.S. national security policy, expressing astonishment that the administration had not prepared for it. The incident underscores the strategic vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz and raises concerns about potential disruptions to global oil markets if tensions escalate further.

Ahead of the upcoming Eid travel rush, the 13-kilometer stretch between Elenga and the Jamuna Bridge on the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna highway has again become a major concern. Despite completion of the four-lane expansion from Joydebpur to Elenga, the remaining section toward the bridge remains unfinished, causing severe traffic jams during past Eid journeys. Ongoing flyover and underpass construction in Elenga, combined with heavy vehicle pressure, is expected to worsen congestion this year. Project officials said construction delays have led to frequent traffic gridlocks, with only half of the work completed so far. The contractor has requested a one-year extension, and authorities plan to open the northbound service lane for Eid travelers. Police in Tangail have deployed 1,000 officers to manage traffic and prevent robberies, which occurred during last year’s holiday period. Traffic pressure is expected to peak on March 17 and 18, as thousands of vehicles head north. Police have pledged to keep unfit vehicles off the road and strengthen highway patrols to ensure safe travel during the festival.

An Israeli airstrike on the Iranian city of Arak killed a woman and a child and injured 35 others, according to the city’s deputy governor. The attack occurred early Friday, and around the same time, loud explosions were heard in several parts of Tehran. State media reported that airstrikes were detected in two eastern districts of the capital around 5:15 a.m. local time, with residents describing their homes shaking from the blasts. Semi-official Fars News Agency confirmed the intensity of the explosions, noting widespread alarm among residents. The incidents come amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump commented that the war against Iran was progressing rapidly and effectively, labeling Iran a “nation of terror and hate” and saying it was paying a high price. He made the remarks at the White House on Friday.

The United States has initiated a trade investigation against several countries, including Bangladesh, India, and China, following a court decision that invalidated a key part of Donald Trump’s tariff policy. The U.S. Trade Representative announced the probe under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, aiming to examine alleged unfair trade practices and structural overcapacity in manufacturing sectors. The investigation could provide a legal basis for imposing new import tariffs, with results expected by next summer. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that limited Trump’s authority to impose tariffs under emergency powers, requiring congressional approval for such actions. In response, Trump announced a new 10 percent global tariff, with the possibility of raising it to 15 percent. The investigation covers 14 countries and the European Union, excluding Canada. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan said the inclusion of Bangladesh is uncomfortable but not alarming, citing improvements in labor rights and limited U.S. market exposure. Industry leaders urged the government to prepare strategically to avoid potential tariff hikes exceeding 19 percent.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized US President Donald Trump for supporting what he described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expansionist delusions. In a social media post following the crash of a US military refueling aircraft in Iraq, Ghalibaf said that families of American soldiers have the right to know why their children are being sacrificed for such causes. The post also referenced convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, noting his past association with Trump and alleged links to Israeli intelligence. Ghalibaf’s remarks came amid heightened tensions following the incident involving a US KC-135 refueling aircraft. According to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the crash occurred during “Operation Epic Fury” in friendly airspace. Two aircraft were involved; one crashed in western Iraq while the other landed safely. Rescue operations are ongoing.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the war against Iran is progressing rapidly and effectively. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, he described Iran as a nation of terror and hate, saying the country is now paying a high price for its actions. His remarks came as he discussed recent developments in the ongoing conflict. Trump has given mixed statements in recent days about the war’s progress. He claimed that the United States has already won against Iran and suggested the war could end very soon, while also emphasizing the need to continue fighting. His comments reflect both confidence in military success and caution about declaring victory too early. Trump did not directly respond to comments from Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who in his first message after taking office vowed to take revenge for joint U.S.-Israeli attacks. The exchange highlights continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran amid escalating hostilities.

Thirteen young men from Jamalganj upazila in Sunamganj, Bangladesh, have been taken hostage by a mafia group in Libya while attempting to reach Italy through human traffickers. The victims, who left home on January 28 and arrived in Libya via the UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt, were captured on February 25 in Tripoli. Their families report receiving video calls from the captors showing scenes of torture and demanding ransom payments. Initially, the mafia demanded 2.6 million taka per person but later agreed to release them for 1.2 million taka each. Relatives identified three local traffickers—Diloara Begum, her son Humayun, and son-in-law Nazrul Islam—as those who arranged the trip for 1.3 million taka per person. These traffickers have since gone into hiding. Families have been selling property and borrowing money to pay ransoms, while one victim, Yasin Mia, reportedly escaped but was detained by Libyan police. Local police in Jamalganj confirmed awareness of the case but said no formal complaint has yet been filed. Families remain in distress, fearing further harm to their sons if they speak publicly, as the mafia has threatened retaliation following earlier media reports.

A French soldier was killed and several others injured in an attack in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. This marks the first death of a French soldier in the ongoing conflict in the area. The French army earlier stated that its troops were engaged in training exercises with Iraqi partners when the drone strike occurred. President Macron described the attack on French forces in Erbil as unacceptable. French troops have been stationed in the Kurdistan region as part of an international coalition fighting against the Islamic State (IS) group. Several hundred French soldiers are currently deployed there to support anti-IS operations and to train local forces. The incident highlights the continuing security risks faced by coalition forces operating in northern Iraq, where sporadic attacks still occur despite the weakening of IS influence in the region.