U.S. Ramps Up Strikes on Tehran Amid Rising Casualties and International Support

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on March 13, 2026, that air strikes against Tehran are intensifying as part of Operation Epic Fury. During a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth confirmed four additional U.S. service member deaths while highlighting U.S. air dominance, which recently included the destruction of ballistic missiles and the sinking of an Iranian naval warship. Hegseth also claimed that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is currently 'wounded and cowering' following recent military engagements. On the diplomatic front, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning Tehran for its attacks on civilian areas and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The resolution was backed by a coalition of regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz defended the operations under UN Charter Article 51, successfully overcoming a veto attempt by Russia. However, the escalation has faced sharp criticism from some analysts. Economist Jeffrey Sachs described the U.S.-Israeli campaign as a 'war of choice' that traces back to the 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Sachs warned that the current conflict is exacerbating a humanitarian crisis, noting that over one million people have already been displaced in Lebanon as the fighting spreads across the region.