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5 min readNPR News Now: March 13, 2026 — A Day of War, Oil, and Terror
The midday newscast opens with a grim tally: six more American service members have died in the Middle East, a military refueling plane crashed in western Iraq, and the U.S. economy shrank far more than previously thought during last year's government shutdown. The dominant theme is escalation — in war, in energy prices, and in domestic security threats tied directly to the conflict abroad.
Six American Airmen Killed in Iraq Crash
U.S. Central Command confirmed that a military refueling aircraft carrying six crew members crashed in western Iraq. All six died. General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the crash occurred in friendly airspace and was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. "We're still treating this as an active rescue and recovery operation," he said. As of the broadcast, four airmen had been recovered. A second plane involved in the same encounter landed safely.
Since the start of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, at least seven other American troops have been killed in action. The crash brings the total American combat deaths to at least thirteen.
Oil Tops $100 as Iran Blocks the Strait of Hormuz
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **U.S. Military Plane Crash in Iraq** - A U.S. military refueling plane crashes in western Iraq, killing all six crew members; General Dan Cain confirms it was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
- 2 (00:45) **Oil Prices Surge as Strait of Hormuz Blocked** - Brent crude oil tops $100 a barrel after Iran's new Supreme Leader vows to continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
- 3 (01:01) **Zelensky Criticizes U.S. Sanctions Relief on Russian Oil** - Ukraine's President Zelensky says the Trump administration's temporary lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will fund the Kremlin's war effort.
- 4 (01:57) **Synagogue Attack Suspect Identified** - The Department of Homeland Security identifies the suspect in the Michigan synagogue attack as 41-year-old Amen Mohammed Ghazali, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon.
- 5 (03:02) **Study: Animal Virus Jumps to Humans Often by Chance** - New research in the journal *Cell* suggests animal viruses that cause outbreaks in humans usually don't need unusual evolution before jumping.
- 6 (04:05) **U.S. GDP Growth Revised Downward** - The U.S. economy grew at a slower pace than initially thought in late 2025, revised down to 0.7% from 4.4% in the third quarter, amid a historically long government shutdown.
- 7 Standout Quotes
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