West Asia war LIVE: U.S. forces shoot down Iranian attack drones, source says

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Iran says funeral for late Supreme Leader Khamenei to begin July 4, burial set for July 9

Updated - June 13, 2026 04:53 pm IST

In this photo released by the Pakistan Prime Minister Office, visiting Iranian delegation headed by Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, third left, meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, Pakistan on April 11, 2026.

| Photo Credit:

AP

The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on early Saturday (June 13, 2026), hours after both sides said a deal to end West Asia war was closer than ever.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, posted on X that Iran had “launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz”. It also said, “U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded.”

Also read | Jaishankar speaks to Rubio, lodges strong protest over U.S. Navy attacks that killed three Indians

Lebanon reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday (June 13, 2026) shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations including the city of Nabatieh ahead of raids there. The state-run National News Agency said Israeli airstrikes hit several areas covered by the warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.

Editorial | Strategic stalemate: On the U.S.-Iran conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, describing the alleged action as “totally unacceptable”, while Tehran rejected the charge as “baseless”. Three vessels with Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week.

Follow the live updates below:

June 13, 2026 16:50

U.S.-Iran peace deal signing expected within 24 hours, says Pakistan PM

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz ‌Sharif said on Saturday (June 13) that the United States and ‌Iran have agreed ‌to a ‌framework ⁠for a ⁠peace deal that would end the ‌months-long conflict in West Asia, with ‌a final text of the ⁠deal reached.

Pakistan is now preparing ‌for an electronic signing expected within the next ‌24 hours followed by technical-level talks ⁠next week, Mr. Sharif added.

​

​

June 13, 2026 16:47

Iran calls Trump's drone attack claims 'simply baseless'

U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran carried out a drone attack on Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “simply baseless”, the Iranian embassy has said.

The mission also described Mr. Trump’s comments as an attempt to divert attention from the American military’s strikes on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman this week that killed three Indian mariners.

“The U.S. President’s accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless,” it said on social media.

“It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the US has attacked three Indian vessels in less than a week and killed three innocent Indian sailors. That’s pathetic,” the embassy added.

-PTI

June 13, 2026 16:18

Iran says funeral for late Supreme Leader Khamenei to begin July 4, burial set for July 9

Funeral for Iran’s ‌late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ⁠will begin in Tehran on ‌July 4 and ‌conclude with his ‌burial ⁠in ⁠the northeastern city of Mashhad on July ‌9, state media reported on Saturday (June 13).

Khamenei, was ‌killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes ⁠on Iran in February. His ‌death marked the end of more than three ‌decades at the helm of the Islamic ⁠Republic.

-Reuters

June 13, 2026 15:01

Lebanon reports Israeli strikes in south after evacuation warning

Lebanon reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday (June 13, 2026) shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations, including the city of Nabatieh, ahead of raids there.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli airstrikes hit several areas covered by the warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.

Lebanon reports Israeli strikes in south after evacuation warning

Lebanon reports Israeli airstrikes in the south, following evacuation warnings for multiple locations amid ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.

June 13, 2026 14:53

Lebanon reports Israeli strikes in south after Israeli warning

Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes on the country’s south on Saturday (June 13, 2026) shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations, including the city of Nabatieh, ahead of raids there.

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli airstrikes in several areas covered by the evacuation warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.

- AFP

June 13, 2026 13:08

Israeli military warns of imminent strikes on south Lebanon

The Israeli military on Saturday (June 13, 2026) warned of imminent strikes on south Lebanon, telling residents of 20 towns and villages, including many near Nabatieh city, to evacuate despite a ceasefire in its war with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

“For your safety, you should evacuate your homes immediately and move to the north of the Zahrani River,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.

“Anyone who is in the vicinity of Hezbollah installations or means of warfare is endangering their lives,” he added, accusing the movement of violating the truce.

- AFP

June 13, 2026 12:24

Iran calls Trump’s drone attack claims ‘simply baseless’

U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran carried out a drone attack on Indian ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “simply baseless”, the Iranian embassy has said.

The mission also described Mr. Trump’s comments as an attempt to divert attention from the American military’s strikes on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman this week that killed three Indian mariners.

“The U.S. President’s accusation against Iran regarding an Indian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz is simply baseless,” it said on social media.

“It is an attempt to divert public attention from the brutal fact that the U.S. has attacked three Indian vessels in less than a week and killed three innocent Indian sailors. That’s pathetic,” the embassy added.

- PTI

June 13, 2026 12:22

U.S. says downed multiple Iranian drones as both insist deal closer

The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz on early Saturday (June 13, 2026), hours after both sides said a deal to end the war in West Asia was closer than ever.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, posted on X that Iran had “launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz”.

“U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded,” it said.

- AFP

June 13, 2026 10:07

India denies reports about attack on fourth vessel in Gulf

India on Saturday (June 13, 2026) denied reports that a fourth vessel was attacked near Oman on Friday (June 12, 2026) night.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs denied reports that MT Liaki Freedom, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, was attacked near Oman. He said that the Ministry had contacted the vessel and confirmed that all crew members were safe. MV Jalveer and MT Sentebello were attacked in that region earlier this week.

Centre denies reports of fourth vessel attacked near Oman; says all crew members safe

India denies reports of MT Liaki Freedom attack near Oman, confirming all crew members are safe.

June 13, 2026 08:12

U.S., Iran have agreed to wording of a deal to end their war, Pakistan's PM says

Pakistan’s Prime Minister said that the United States and Iran have agreed to wording of an agreement aimed at ending their war in West Asia and that mediators were working with both sides to finalise a deal.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the U.S. and Iran have reached a “final, agreed upon text”. He said Pakistan, which has taken the lead in mediation efforts, was working with the warring countries on next steps.

“Peace has never been this close as it is now,” Mr. Sharif said in a post on X.

- AP

June 13, 2026 07:20

Hezbollah says it confronted Israeli troops advancing in south Lebanon

Hezbollah said on Friday (June 13, 2026) its fighters had confronted Israeli forces advancing towards a southern Lebanese town, as Israel pressed on with its strikes in Lebanon.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters first targeted Israeli troops advancing towards Majdal Zoun, around 5 km from the western side of the border, on Thursday (June 11, 2026) evening “with repeated rocket barrages, forcing them to retreat”.

It then said it engaged with an advancing force there on Friday (June 12, 2026) “engaging them with light and medium weapons and rockets”.

The group also claimed other attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military meanwhile issued an evacuation warning for three southern Lebanese villages.

- AFP

June 13, 2026 07:20

Tehran would not cede control of Strait of Hormuz under draft U.S. deal, says Iran

Iran’s state media said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that under a draft agreement with the United States, Tehran would not give up control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran makes no commitment in this text to cede the management of the strait or the restoration of conditions that existed prior to the American and Israeli military aggression,” according to the official IRNA news agency, which referred to “the broad outlines of the current text” being finalised.

Tehran would not cede control of Strait of Hormuz under draft U.S. deal, says Iran

Iran's draft accord with the U.S. proposes 60 days of negotiations for a nuclear deal and release of $24 billion in assets.

June 13, 2026 07:20

Jaishankar speaks to Rubio, lodges strong protest over U.S. Navy attacks that killed three Indians

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and lodged a strong protest over the attacks by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners.

“Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X about his talks with Mr. Rubio.

Jaishankar speaks to Rubio, lodges strong protest over U.S. Navy attacks that killed three Indians

Jaishankar protests to Rubio over U.S. Navy attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners, condemning unjustified actions.

June 13, 2026 07:20

The Hindu's Editorial on the West Asia war

President Donald Trump’s decision to back off from striking Iran, just hours after threatening to seize the country’s Kharg Island, underscores the dilemma he faces in dealing with Tehran.

Mr. Trump, who launched the conflict with his ally Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on February 28, now wants to end it through talks.

But Iran, which survived 40 days of U.S.-Israeli bombing and now controls the Strait of Hormuz, appears unwilling to hand him a diplomatic victory.

Caught between an uncontrollable Israel, whose bombing of Lebanon threatens the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and an emboldened Iran that has become increasingly defiant and intransigent, Mr. Trump reverted to his familiar playbook of using military pressure to alter Tehran’s negotiating position.

Click here to read the full Editorial

June 13, 2026 07:19

A deal with U.S. ‘has never been closer’, says Iran

A day after U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from a threatened attack on Iran, claiming progress in talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday (June 12, 2026) that Washington and Tehran have “never been closer” to reaching a preliminary agreement.

“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content. In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course,” Mr. Araghchi wrote in a social media post. U.S. President Donald Trump reposted Mr. Araghchi’s statement in his Truth Social account.

Click here to read more

June 13, 2026 07:13

U.S. forces shoot down Iranian attack drones, source says

U.S. forces shot ‌down multiple Iranian one-way attack ⁠drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, ‌a source familiar with ‌the matter ‌told ⁠Reuters on Friday (June 12, 2026), ⁠in the latest military flare-up even as Washington ‌and Tehran cite progress in peace talks.

The source, who ‌spoke on condition of anonymity, said the drones ⁠had posed a threat to ‌commercial traffic.

- Reuters

June 13, 2026 07:07

West Asia war: Major developments on June 12, 2026

West Asia War updates: Abbas Araghchi says draft U.S. deal includes ending naval blockade, Hormuz arrangements

Follow The Hindu for more updates on the Iran-Israel war and U.S. military action, including strikes on Iran, Tehran's response, and growing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.

Published - June 13, 2026 07:06 am IST

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