US aircraft carrier and refueling plane "hit" as Trump warns Iran of major escalation

As the war in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf completes its second week, the US and Israel are facing fierce resistance from Iran and its "allied forces" across the broader region. The Iranians claim to have repeatedly struck the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln with missiles and drones, causing severe structural damage—a claim rejected by US Central Command—while asserting that pro-Iranian units of the Iraqi resistance shot down a US Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft over western Iraq.

However, the Americans dismiss this version of events, maintaining that the downing and crash of the aircraft was "not due to friendly or enemy fire," though no further information has been provided. At the same time, the US government appears divided over the course of the war. Presidential advisors point out that the energy crisis could carry a significant cost, necessitating a "victory narrative" and an exit strategy, while others pressure Trump to see the conflict through to the end.

A shocking warning from Trump underscores the tension; in a post on Truth Social, he foreshadowed a massive strike on Iran, stating: "Watch what happens today to those crazy bums." For its part, Israel claims to have hit over 200 targets in central and western Iran, while Prime Minister Netanyahu threatens the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, with elimination. Under these chaotic conditions, the war is expanding as a new alarm sounds at Incirlik base in Turkey, and an armed group affiliated with Iran announced it is targeting French interests in the region.

Trump: Watch what happens today to those crazy bums

A warning of massive military strikes against Iran was issued by US President Donald Trump via a post on Truth Social. "Watch what happens today to those crazy bums," Trump stated, while also attacking US media outlets regarding reports on the war's progress.

"We are completely destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and in every other way, yet if you read the failing New York Times, you would mistakenly think we aren't winning. The Iranian Navy is gone, its Air Force no longer exists, the missiles, drones, and everything else have been destroyed, and its leaders have vanished from the face of the earth."

"We possess incomparable firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time. Watch what happens today to those crazy bums. They have been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do this! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD Trump," the US president concluded in his post.

Trump: Show courage

Trump also caused a stir by urging tankers to show courage and transit the Strait of Hormuz. Asked about the risks facing oil tankers while speaking to Fox News, Trump said they should "pass through the Strait of Hormuz and show courage."

"There is nothing to fear. They have no Navy, and we sank all their ships," Trump said. According to CNN, shipping industry executives have made repeated requests to the US Navy for military escorts, all of which have been rejected as the Pentagon has deemed them too dangerous to perform at this time.

Attacks on at least 16 tankers

At least 16 oil tankers, cargo ships, and other vessels have been attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman since the war began two weeks ago, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre. At least one person died and 38 others were rescued following attacks earlier this week. Iran, which effectively controls the strait, closed it after the US and Israel launched joint attacks against Iran nearly two weeks ago.

Civil war in the White House

Reports indicate a division in the White House regarding Trump's stance on the progression of the war. It is reported that some presidential advisors are discussing when and how a victory could be announced, even as the conflict spreads across the Middle East. Some officials and advisors are warning Trump that rising gasoline prices could carry a political cost due to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

At the same time, "hardliners" are pushing the president to continue the offensive against the Islamic Republic. These behind-the-scenes maneuvers highlight the significant risks facing Trump, who promised to avoid "dumb" military interventions upon taking office.

Economic advisors and officials, including those from the Treasury Department and the National Economic Council, have warned Trump that an oil shock and a surge in gasoline prices could quickly weaken domestic support for the war, according to an advisor and two others close to the discussions. Political advisors, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Chief James Blair, are making similar arguments, focusing on the political fallout from higher fuel prices and urging Trump to define victory narrowly and signal that the operation is limited and nearly complete.

Conversely, "hardline" voices are urging Trump to maintain military pressure on Iran, including Republican lawmakers such as US Senators Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton, as well as media commentators like Mark Levin. They argue that the US must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and react decisively to attacks on US troops and shipping. A third force comes from Trump’s populist base and figures like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson, who have pushed him to avoid becoming entangled in another prolonged Middle East conflict.

CNN: US underestimated Iran's readiness to cause a global blackout

The Pentagon and the US National Security Council "fatally underestimated" Tehran’s readiness to cause a global blackout, CNN reports. High-ranking Trump administration officials now admit with terror that there was no action plan whatsoever for the possibility of the Strait of Hormuz being sealed.

During military planning, officials in Washington relied on the arrogant assumption that Iran would never dare such a move, believing it would primarily destroy its own economy, leaving Western powers entirely unprepared for the ensuing disaster. The belief that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be more damaging to Iran than to the United States and its allies proved to be a historic misunderstanding now being paid for with blood and economic misery.

Through the use of mines and repeated attacks on ships, Tehran managed to paralyze international navigation, turning the White House's miscalculation into an unprecedented crisis. In classified meetings with members of Congress, administration officials confessed that the lack of strategy was due to Donald Trump's centralized decision-making, which relied only on a tight circle of advisors, stifling serious inter-agency discussion regarding the catastrophic economic consequences.

The total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global crude oil production passes, has caused an unprecedented earthquake in energy markets, with prices soaring to historic levels of terror. The International Energy Agency describes the situation as the largest supply disruption in history, a development that the US national security team failed abysmally to predict. Former Pentagon officials say they are shocked by the intensity and means used by Tehran, emphasizing that mass mining and the targeting of commercial vessels prove the Iranians' unshakable determination to bring the West to its knees through economic suffocation. While Donald Trump boastfully claims the United States won the war and the Strait of Hormuz will open soon, the blunt reality on the ground contradicts him.

Financial Times: US has consumed critical quantities of ammunition in Iran

Since the start of the operation in Iran, the US has consumed critical quantities of ammunition intended for "years" ahead, the Financial Times reports. According to the publication, the rapid depletion of weapon systems included advanced Tomahawk long-range missiles. "This is a colossal consumption of Tomahawk missiles. The US Naval forces will feel the consequences for several years to come," the report states, citing one of its sources.

New Iranian fire on USS Lincoln – Guards: "Massive damage, they withdrew it"

The escalation extended to the waters, with the Revolutionary Guard approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with small boats and opening fire, causing its... "hasty withdrawal." According to the version provided by CBS News, an Iranian vessel approached the USS Abraham Lincoln at a dangerous distance while it was operating in the region supporting war operations against Tehran.

The incident evolved into an open conflict when a US warship attempted to strike the Iranian vessel with its Mark-45 gun located on the forward deck. Despite repeated rounds, the US ship missed multiple times. According to US media, the solution came from a helicopter equipped with Hellfire missiles, which managed to hit the Iranian boat with two projectiles.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari (Khatam al-Anbiya spokesperson): We disabled the USS Lincoln

Iranian forces disabled the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to Khatam al-Anbiya Command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari. "The aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was attacked by the IRGC Navy and immobilized. It has left the area and is returning to the United States," IRIB reported, based on his statements. However, Zolfaghari did not specify when this occurred or if it was a new attack on the ship; the Iranian military has repeatedly reported launching missiles against it.

Iran: Iraqi resistance units downed the American KC-135

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces claims that a US Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft was shot down over western regions of Iraq, with the entire crew killed. The official military announcement was broadcast by the Islamic Republic's state television. "The American refueling aircraft was hit by a missile launched by Iraqi resistance groups in western Iraq. The plane crashed and all crew members are dead," the Iranian military asserts.

The US regional central command, CENTCOM, confirmed the loss of a US KC-135 refueling aircraft during Operation Epic Fury while it was in friendly airspace. "The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," the US Central Command statement said, using the Pentagon's name for operations against Iran.

"Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second landed safely. This was not due to enemy or friendly fire," CENTCOM announced. At least five crew members were aboard the tanker that crashed, a US official told CNN. The second aircraft that landed safely was also a KC-135, the official added. The statement mentioned that more information will be made available as "the situation evolves" and requested patience while more details are gathered "to provide clarity to the families of the servicemen."

Chaos in the Gulf

At the same time, Iran continues to strike Gulf states. Earlier today, Friday 13/3, explosions were heard in central Dubai as air defense systems intercepted a projectile. Video geolocated by CNN shows a thick plume of smoke rising above skyscrapers in Dubai's downtown financial district. Dubai authorities announced that "debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the facade of a building in downtown Dubai," while reporting no injuries. Shortly thereafter, the United Arab Emirates emergency management authority stated it was responding to a missile threat.

In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses shot down 10 more drones heading toward the kingdom's eastern and central provinces, bringing the total number of drones that invaded Saudi airspace in a few hours to nearly 50. This attack represents a higher-than-usual number of aerial threats for the kingdom, which has seen sites such as the US Embassy in Riyadh, oil infrastructure, and a military base hosting US forces targeted. An alarm was also sounded in Bahrain.

Alarm again in Turkey

Sirens were heard at the NATO airbase in Incirlik, Turkey, near the southeastern city of Adana, according to the state news agency Anadolu. Residents of Adana, located 10 kilometers (six miles) from the base, were awakened around 3:25 a.m. local time by sirens which sounded for about five minutes. There is no official comment yet on the incident, which occurred four days after a ballistic missile launched from Iran was shot down in Turkish airspace by NATO air defenses—the second in five days. In Adana, sirens from fire and security forces were heard for an extended period.

Threats against France

An armed group affiliated with Iran announces it is targeting "French interests in Iraq and the region." The group Ashab al-Kahf, which is close to Iran, announced it is targeting "all French interests in Iraq and the region," following the deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and other French military assets to the Gulf region.

"We announce as of tonight that all French interests in Iraq and the region will suffer our attacks," the Iraqi armed group emphasized via Telegram, calling on citizens to maintain a distance of at least 500 meters from a base in Iraqi Kurdistan where French soldiers are stationed. It is noted that on Thursday 12/3, a French soldier was killed during a drone attack in Iraqi Kurdistan. Five other French soldiers were wounded in the attack.

IDF: We hit over 200 targets in Iran

The Israeli military announced that its Air Force (IAF) struck over 200 targets in western and central Iran over the last 24 hours. Reports say the strikes included military installations, such as ballistic missile launch sites and other critical military targets, with dozens of aircraft involved in these operations. This phase of attacks is part of broader war operations continuing between Israel, the US, and Iran, with tensions, retaliation, and large-scale aerial operations increasing the scale of conflict in the region. Additionally, the IDF announced it launched an extensive wave of air attacks on Tehran, hitting government targets, while striking Hezbollah positions in Beirut and issuing a new evacuation warning for the city's southern suburbs. According to Israeli authorities, over the last 24 hours, at least 213 Israelis were injured by Israeli attacks and received first aid.

Netanyahu's admission: I don't know if Iranians will oust the regime

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted yesterday, Thursday 12/3, that he is not certain the Iranian people will overthrow the Islamic Republic once Israel and the US create the conditions for it. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink," Netanyahu said in his first press conference since the Israeli and US attacks on Iran on February 28, which sparked a wider regional conflict.

"We will create the optimal conditions for this to happen, including air strikes like we did yesterday, as we are doing these days, trying to give the Iranian people the space they need to take to the streets. We are dealing critical blows to the Revolutionary Guard and the Basij, their forces on the streets, their checkpoints—and more is yet to come," Netanyahu noted, adding: "I don't deny it: I cannot say with certainty that the Iranian people will overthrow the regime."

"We told you, Help is coming," he said, addressing the Iranian public. "Well, help has arrived and more will follow. We all hope for the result of this regime's fall," Netanyahu said, but "ultimately, a regime is overthrown from within." He said Iran is already greatly weakened. "It is simply a different Iran, it no longer threatens as it did before. It is not the same power. It is not the giant bully against whom nothing can be done and no one can unite," Netanyahu said, stating that if Israel and the US had not acted, "within a few months, Iran's death industries would have become invulnerable to any attack." Against the backdrop of anger from Israelis in Northern Israel who are again being targeted by Hezbollah, Netanyahu also warned that the Lebanese government must "take your fate into your own hands" and disarm the Iran-backed terrorist organization, otherwise Israel will be forced to do so.

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