What They’re Saying About Operation Epic Fury—March 13, 2026
U.S.
President Donald Trump | Times of Israel
“‘I really think that’s a big hurdle to climb for people that don’t have weapons,’ Trump told host Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio, in response to a question about whether he still thinks Iranians should rise up and overthrow their government. ‘I think it’s a very big hurdle,’ he said. ‘It’ll happen,’ Trump declared, ‘but . . . maybe not immediately.’” . . . Asked when he’ll know that the Iran war is over, Trump said, ‘When I feel it.’ ‘When I feel it in my bones,’ he said. . . . Asked if there’s a plan in place to recover the 400-plus kilograms of highly enriched uranium from Iran, Trump responded: ‘No, not at all.’ ‘We’re not focused on that. But at some point we might be,’ Trump said. ‘Right now we’re focused on knocking the hell out of their missiles and their drones,’ he said, touting the progress made in degrading Iran’s military capabilities so far.”
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning. Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth. We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time - Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today. They’ve 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 so!”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth | The Hill
“Iran’s leadership is in no better shape, desperate and hiding. They’ve gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do. We know the new so-called not-so supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured.
There was no voice and there was no video. It was a written statement. He called for unity, apparently, killing tens of thousands of protesters is his kind of unity. Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why? His father dead, he’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run, and he lacks legitimacy. It’s a mess for them. Who’s in charge? Iran may not even know.”
“All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire. The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.”
“The Iranian regime has been the number one threat to peace and stability in the Middle East for years. U.S. forces continue to take decisive steps to neutralize Iran’s power projection capabilities.”
Iran
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“1/ Trump was duped by Netanyahu into starting the war and is now acting under his control. Regarding the major crime they have committed, Iran no longer makes ‘any distinction’ between the United States and the Zionist regime.
“2/ The war will continue until the enemy’s calculus is altered and they are driven to regret.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“Starting this morning, and thanks to the national epic of Quds Day, which was an uprising on the scale of the 1979 revolution, with the sacrifices of the brave soldiers of the Iranian nation, a new page has been turned in the war management system, the effects of which will be visible.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
“Today, the government’s most important concern, besides making the necessary preparations for all-out defense, is to organize the affairs of the people. The cooperation, empathy, and participation of all branches of government are essential, and the support of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution is a great asset for the government.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi | X
“Proud and honored to have accompanied the Strong and Resilient People of Iran to mark International Quds Day. Iranians will ALWAYS stand firm and NEVER cower before cowardly attacks. Video: Reaction of demonstrators when Tehran was bombed today is nightmare for aggressors.”
Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Times of Israel
“Regarding the potential for regime change in Iran, Netanyahu told reporters in the televised press conference: ‘We will create optimal conditions to do this, including airstrikes as we did yesterday, as we are doing these days, to try to give [the Iranian people] the space needed to take to the streets. We are delivering crushing blows to the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, their street forces, their checkpoints—and more is yet to come.’ Nonetheless, he said, ‘I do not deny it: I cannot say for certain that the Iranian people will bring down the regime.’ However the conflict plays out, Netanyahu asserted that the Islamic Republic is already much weakened. ‘It’s simply a different Iran—it no longer threatens as it did before,’ he said. ‘It is not the same power. It’s not the giant bully that nothing can be done against and that no one can unite against.’” . . . Asked whether Israel would go after Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, Netanyahu replied: ‘I wouldn’t take out a life insurance policy on any of the leaders of the terror organizations.’”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | X
“Yesterday at the press conference, I stood by the clear objectives of the campaign: striking the terror regime in Iran, continuing the fight against its proxies, and ensuring Israel’s security and future. We’re not waiting. We're initiating, we’re attacking, and we’re doing it with force.”
“IRAN:
• ~7,600 total strikes including:
2,000+ strikes on HQs & assets of the Iranian regime, ~4,700 strikes against the Iranian missile program
• Thousands of terror operatives eliminated
• 4,700+ operational sorties, including 380+ over Iranian airspace
LEBANON:
• 1,100+ strikes including:
~190 Radwan Force targets, 200+ missile and launcher targets, and ~35 command-and-control sites
• 380+ Hezbollah terrorists eliminated”
Gulf States
“The UAE's air defenses are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones originating from Iran, and the Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions.”
“UAE air defenses (March 13, 2026) dealt with 7 ballistic missiles and 27 drones coming from Iran. Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, UAE air defenses have dealt with 285 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1567 drones. These attacks have resulted in 6 deaths of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities, and 141 cases of minor to moderate injuries among Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, Palestinian, Ghanaian, Indonesian, and Swedish nationalities.”
UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh | The Times of Israel
“Ultimately, it will be a diplomatic solution, but there needs to be that tipping point moment, and I think that President Trump will lead us all to that moment in his time . . . It is difficult to talk about mediation when under attack… Mediation can only happen when the guns go silent . . . People are back at work, our airports are open, flights are taking off. It’s the Iranian economy that was already strangled by sanctions and economic pressure that is going into freefall. It’s their currency that’s going into freefall.”
Kuwait Army General Staff Headquarters | X
“Since dawn on Friday, the air defense systems have detected (1) ballistic missile launched towards the country, which fell outside the threat area and was not dealt with and did not cause any damage. The Kuwaiti Armed Forces affirm their full readiness to protect the security of the homeland and preserve its sovereignty.”
Lebanon
Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Ragi | X
“I received a call from the Foreign Minister of Armenia @AraratMirzoyan, who expressed his country’s solidarity with Lebanon during the difficult situation it is facing. . . . I stressed the government’s firm commitment to implementing the Cabinet decision prohibiting the military and security activities of Hezbollah and to ensure that weapons are held only by the legitimate security forces.”
Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron | X
“Russia believes that the war in Iran will offer it a respite. It is mistaken. Nothing will divert us from Ukraine. Our support will not waver.”
Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | X
“Countries in the Middle East have reached out to us, asking to share our expertise in intercepting Iranian ‘shahed’ drones during massive strikes. That is why we have already sent expert teams to three countries. We are ready to help. By the end of the week, our military personnel and the NSDC Secretary will return and provide a full report. We will then understand the scope of the assistance our partners expect from us. We know that in Middle Eastern countries, in the U.S., and in European states, there is a certain number of interceptor drones. But without our pilots, without our military personnel, without specialized software, none of this works. This system exists only within our Armed Forces; it is official, and therefore everyone understands: even with dozens or hundreds of interceptors, they will not be able to stabilize the situation. This is a systemic defense. And it is precisely the experts in systemic defense, professionals in air defense and in the use of short-range air defense, that have been sent to the Middle Eastern countries.”
Receive Iran News in Your Inbox.
Eye on Iran is a news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a section 501(c)(3) organization. Eye on Iran is available to subscribers on a daily basis or weekly basis.