US Central Command confirmed on Friday that four US troops were confirmed dead in the loss of a US KC-135 refueling aircraft in Iraq. 

At least 11 US Service Members have now been killed in Iran war operations. 

The status of the remaining two crew members is unclear as rescue efforts are still underway. The cause of the crash remains unclear, but CENCOM confirmed it was neither hostile nor friendly fire.

CENTCOM wrote in a statement,

Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq

TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.

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.

Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq

TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.

The…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026

As The Gateway Pundit reported, CENTCOM on Thursday confirmed a KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

“This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

MORE:

DEVELOPING: KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Goes Down in Iraq; Status of Six Crewmembers on Board Unknown

The post JUST IN: 4 of 6 Confirmed Dead in Crash of Refueling Plane in Iraq appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

President Trump on Thursday said that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, is “damaged” but “probably alive,” amid reports from Iranian TV and other outlets that Khamenei was wounded as US and Israeli strikes continue to bombard Iran.  

War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday declined to comment on whether or not these reports were accurate.

Then, on Thursday, the newly chosen leader issued a lengthy written statement, which was read out by Iranian state TV, but he did not make a televised appearance, as reports suggest that his injuries are severe.

“He is understood to have lost at least one leg in the incident and is believed to have sustained severe internal injuries, possibly to his stomach or liver,” GBN reports, noting that he may even be in a coma, according to sources.

THE INVISIBLE AYATOLLAH: Mojtaba Khamenei Still Nowhere To Be Seen, as Reports Suggest He Has ‘Lost a Leg’ and Is ‘In a Coma’

Khamenei's statement calls for "all nations of the Resistance Front," neighboring countries in Iran's proxy network, to utilize the "leverage of closing the Strait of Hormuz" and exact revenge on behalf of the "martyrs" of Iran.

Trump appeared in an interview with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade on Friday, where he appeared to confirm that Khamenei is still alive but injured.

"I think he's damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form," Trump said.

Trump further responded to Khamenei doubling down on threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, telling Kilmeade, "He's gonna have to put up."

"We'll have to see because we are decimating them. We've knocked out most of their missiles. We've knocked out many of their drones. We knocked out a lot of the manufacturing areas, where they manufacture the missiles and now the drones," Trump continued. We're hitting them harder than anybody's been hit since World War Two."

WATCH:

Kilmeade: Finally, we hear from the Supreme Leader in a long statement. We don't see him. He doesn't read the speech. They say he wrote the speech. First off, do you believe he's alive?

Trump: I think he probably is. I think he's damaged, but I think he's probably alive in some form. Yeah.

Kilmeade: What's your takeaway? I know he says, he says that he's going to widen the war. He's going to continue to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against you to end this war. He's got underwater drones to stop any of the ships going in and out. What's your message back to the new Supreme Leader?

Trump: Well, they've been doing a lot of talking, so he's gonna have to put up. We'll have to see because we are decimating them. We've knocked out most of their missiles. We've knocked out many of their drones. We knocked out a lot of the manufacturing areas, where they manufacture the missiles and now the drones. We're hitting them harder than anybody's been hit since World War Two.

The full interview will air on the Brian Kilmeade show at 10 AM ET today, Kilmeade said.

The post JUST IN: Trump Says Iran’s New Supreme Leader “Probably Alive in Some Form” but “Damaged” as Reports Claim He’s Incapacitated (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was abruptly pulled from a live televised interview with Sky News on Thursday to attend an emergency meeting in the White House Situation Room.

The interruption occurred while Bessent was speaking with Wilfred Frost.

Just as the conversation was heating up, an aide approached the Secretary and delivered the bombshell: “Mr. Secretary, the President wants you in the Situation Room.”

Both Bessent and Frost were visibly surprised by the timing.

Turning back to Frost, Bessent apologized before abruptly leaving the interview.

After a tense two-hour absence, a focused and determined Secretary Bessent returned to resume the discussion.

Frost:
Mr. Secretary, I have to say it’s a first—I’m sure, a last as well—that an interview has been pulled away so you could go to the Situation Room. How was the President? Was he stressed?

Sec. Bessent:
No, the President is in great spirits. The Iranian mission is proceeding well ahead of schedule. I have to tell you, Wilf, that if I were a teenager considering military service, I could give this team my highest compliment—from President Trump to the head of the Joint Chiefs to the Secretary of War. I would say that I would trust my child’s life in their hands.

WATCH:

Watch the moment a call from the White House situation room interrupts U.S. treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s interview with Sky’s @WilfredFrost pic.twitter.com/4XNNvRuHJX

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 12, 2026

Bessent also revealed what the administration has been discussing in the Situation Room.

Sec. Bessent:
It is my belief that, as soon as it is militarily possible, the U.S. Navy—perhaps with an international coalition—will be escorting vessels through.

Frost:
And that came up just now in the Situation Room?

Sec. Bessent:
Your words, not mine.

Frost:
Are we days away from that?

Sec. Bessent:
We’ve been planning for this. We’ve done scenario analysis for months, and for weeks leading into this.

Frost:
But it’s a prospect in the coming days, then?

Sec. Bessent:
It is a prospect as soon as we have complete control of the skies and continue degrading their capabilities. They have no Air Force. The Navy is sunk—literally and figuratively. The munitions factories and the rebuilding capabilities for the missiles are completely degraded. As soon as it is possible to ensure safe passage, we will do so.

WATCH:

NOW – U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent says the Navy, possibly with an international coalition, will escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as militarily possible and that they have been planning for this for months leading up to the Iran war. pic.twitter.com/ICXhH9B56S

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 12, 2026

The post DRAMATIC MOMENT: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Pulled From Live TV Interview for Urgent White House Situation Room Meeting appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth will deliver a press briefing with Air Force General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the war in Iran closes its second week. 

This comes amid reports from Iranian TV and other outlets that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, was wounded as US and Israeli strikes continue to bombard Iran.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader issued a lengthy written statement, which was read out by Iranian state TV, but he did not make a televised appearance, as reports suggest that his injuries are severe.

“He is understood to have lost at least one leg in the incident and is believed to have sustained severe internal injuries, possibly to his stomach or liver,” GBN reports, noting that he may even be in a coma, according to sources.

THE INVISIBLE AYATOLLAH: Mojtaba Khamenei Still Nowhere To Be Seen, as Reports Suggest He Has ‘Lost a Leg’ and Is ‘In a Coma’

Khamenei's statement calls for "all nations of the Resistance Front," neighboring countries in Iran's proxy network, to utilize the "leverage of closing the Strait of Hormuz" and exact revenge on behalf of the "martyrs" of Iran.

Meanwhile, Israeli and US strikes have continued on Iran, targeting infrastructure and military sites, including drone and missile capabilities.

The press briefing is scheduled to begin at 8 am ET.

Watch live below:

The post WATCH LIVE: War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine Deliver Press Briefing – 8 AM ET appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Dr. Ben Carson joined Rose Unplugged this week to discuss what young Americans need most today.

Dr. Ben Carson has spent a lifetime defying expectations — from growing up in poverty to becoming one of the world’s most renowned pediatric neurosurgeons and serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Now, he’s stepping back into public service with a powerful new role shaping national policy.

In this conversation, Dr. Ben Carson joins the program after being sworn in as National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture — a position that places him at the center of issues affecting millions of American families, from food security and rural health care access to stable housing. And he also weighs in on SNAP.

But policy is only part of the story.

Dr. Carson also speaks candidly about the deeper issues shaping our nation: the importance of faith in overcoming anger and adversity, the growing climate of division in America, and why courage — not fear — must guide leaders in a volatile cultural moment. He shares the powerful personal experiences that shaped his views on self-control, responsibility, and the role families play in forming the next generation.

AUDIO:

Please follow Rose Unplugged on Rumble here.

The post ROSE UNPLUGGED: Dr. Ben Carson Returns to National Stage: Fighting for America’s Families (AUDIO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.