Live updates: Trump announces economic campaign against Iran

Newly-released footage reveals the dramatic rescue of "Bravo," one of two US Air Force crew members whose aircraft was shot down over Iran in April.

The video shows personnel from the US Joint Special Operations Command during the mission to locate and rescue him after he survived alone for two days, severely wounded, deep inside enemy territory.

"Bravo," the weapons systems officer aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle, was injured when the aircraft was brought down over southwestern Iran, in the Isfahan area. An Iranian missile that struck the aircraft also damaged his parachute equipment, causing him to descend toward the ground at an exceptionally high speed.

According to expert estimates, "Bravo" struck the ground at a speed of between 110 and 160 kilometers per hour. He survived the impact but suffered a spinal fracture, fractures to his shoulder and arm, and a sprained ankle.

Despite his condition and without food or water, the officer began moving through the terrain and climbing toward a mountain ridge reaching an elevation of approximately 2,100 meters in an attempt to find shelter.

"I believe that it's a testament to God's provision in my life to bring me through that moment in a way that didn't prevent injuries, but prevented any catastrophic injuries that would have affected my ability to survive," he told CBS' "60 Minutes."

The two crew members who were forced to eject from the aircraft landed approximately five miles apart. The pilot, given the callsign "Alpha," was located and rescued within about six hours in a daylight operation involving 21 aircraft under heavy fire. The rescue of "Bravo," however, was delayed by a day due to operational considerations.

The breakthrough came after classified CIA technology helped pinpoint his exact location, alongside the activation of his personal locator beacon.

Once his location was confirmed, an extensive rescue force was dispatched, involving hundreds of troops and dozens of fighter jets and helicopters. As part of the operation, two transport aircraft carrying approximately 92 special forces commandos landed on Iranian soil. It marked the first US ground operation in the country in approximately 46 years.

The rescue itself was conducted under fire, with US commandos engaging members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij forces, while fighter aircraft worked to isolate the operational area and prevent Iranian reinforcements from reaching the scene.

During the operation, two US helicopters were hit by anti-aircraft fire, while an A-10 support aircraft crashed in Kuwait.

Even after "Bravo" was rescued, the American force encountered another complication when the wheels of the two transport aircraft became stuck in the sand on the improvised landing strip, preventing them from taking off.

A secretive US Air Force unit was called in to assist, and three additional aircraft were dispatched to evacuate the troops and the rescued officer.

The two aircraft left behind were subsequently destroyed in an airstrike on the orders of mission commanders to prevent their technology from falling into Iranian hands.

Iran has asked Russia to supply it with advanced Gran drones for use in its war against Israel and the United States, the Financial Times reported.

According to the report, the request comes amid significant improvements in Russia's drone capabilities. The Gran drones are upgraded versions of the Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which Russia began producing domestically in 2023.

New Gran-4 and Gran-5 models have been striking urban targets in Ukraine in recent weeks, presenting an unprecedented challenge to local air defense forces.

The improvements extend beyond flight speed and the drones' external design: Unlike earlier models in the Gran series, which relied on relatively simple guidance systems, the modern versions are equipped with thermal imaging capabilities, AI-based target acquisition systems, and Russian-made antennas designed to withstand navigation jamming.

Russia's ability to centralize production has allowed Moscow to continuously upgrade the drones, immediately implement lessons learned from the fighting in Ukraine, and introduce new models into operational service within relatively short periods of time.

The Trump administration wants any future negotiations with Tehran to address Iran's nuclear program while keeping the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz outside the talks, CNN reported Sunday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.

A US official told CNN that Washington's current position is to negotiate with Iran only on the nuclear issue. Tehran, meanwhile, has conveyed to regional countries that it would be willing to enter nuclear negotiations once the dispute over the strait is settled, including an end to the US blockade.

Oman has been attempting to develop a regional framework for reopening the strategic waterway. One of the main unresolved issues is whether tanker operators would be required to pay fees for passage. According to CNN, opposition from some Gulf and European officials to potential new arrangements has eased in recent months.

US officials have examined Oman's proposals but have not publicly backed the framework. American officials maintain that US forces currently hold the military advantage in the strait, although there are questions about how long Washington can maintain its current level of escort operations.

Meanwhile, Oman said Sunday that a meeting scheduled for Monday between Iran and Gulf countries to discuss possible agreements over the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on social media that the meeting was delayed “in the interests of consensus." He added, “We remain committed to fostering dialogue that supports stability and lasting cooperation in our region,"

The developments come amid uncertainty over the duration of the war. President Donald Trump said last Wednesday that the conflict would end immediately after the US midterm elections in November, arguing that Iran “can't hold out any longer."

Trump also accused Tehran of trying to prolong the fighting in an effort to influence the elections. “They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

Later that day, The Wall Street Journal reported that senior White House officials had privately cautioned Trump that the war could potentially continue for years, possibly lasting through the end of his current term in January 2029.

According to the report, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior administration officials have discussed the possibility that Iran will continue resisting US military pressure and the blockade despite Trump's public expectation that the conflict will end quickly.

Trump said Thursday that he has no regrets about launching the war against Iran and would make the same decision again, saying the US had eliminated Iran's nuclear capability.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, "I don't believe in the word regret. You can always question yourself a little bit. A few people have asked me that. If I had it to do again, I'd do exactly as I did. I took out their nuclear capability."

Trump argued that an Iranian nuclear weapon would represent a major danger to Israel, the Middle East and the United States.

"Supposing we were cruising and all of a sudden Iran has a nuclear weapon. They would use it. They're crazy. I deal with them. They're crazy. And they would use it," he said. "They would have wiped out Israel. They would have wiped out the Middle East. And they would have started hitting a couple of our cities."

A new New York Times report is shining a spotlight on growing internal tensions within Iran’s leadership, revealing deep divisions over military operations, negotiations with the United States, and the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly caught by surprise in July when Iranian forces attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in an operation that senior officials said had not been authorized by much of the country’s leadership.

According to the report, Pezeshkian was in neighboring Iraq for events marking the death of Iran’s previous supreme leader when he learned that Iranian forces had opened fire on the ships, setting a Qatari LNG tanker ablaze and damaging other vessels.

Pezeshkian contacted Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Gen. Ahmad Vahidi and angrily demanded an explanation, according to Iranian officials and Guards members cited by The New York Times.

Vahidi reportedly told Pezeshkian that he had neither authorized the operation nor known about it beforehand. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council was also unaware of the plan.

According to the Times, an investigation by Iranian authorities subsequently traced the decision to attack the vessels to Hossein Taeb, an influential cleric and intelligence figure who had opposed an agreement with the United States.

According to Iranian officials, Taeb had argued to Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, that Tehran had made a mistake by ending the fighting and agreeing to a deal with Washington.

Alireza Namvar Haghighi, an Iran expert and former official who maintains contacts within the government, told the Times that the attacks were intended to destroy the understanding with US President Donald Trump and prevent future negotiations.

Officials said Pezeshkian was initially told that commanders in the field had acted independently under an order allowing them to target vessels deemed to be violating Iranian control of the Strait without approval from central command.

Iranian officials reportedly gave a similar explanation to the United States and regional countries after the incident, blaming unauthorized operators. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was subsequently sent to Oman in an effort to reduce tensions with Washington.

The effort failed. Pezeshkian returned to Tehran, and the United States launched retaliatory airstrikes the following morning, bringing the two countries back into open conflict.

The incident also triggered serious disputes within Iran’s leadership. According to the report, senior officials engaged in heated confrontations, two generals threatened to resign, and accusations of betrayal were exchanged.

The turmoil contributed to changes at the Supreme National Security Council and the appointment of Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, to lead the body. Officials viewed Rezaei as capable of mediating among Iran’s competing political factions.

The divisions, however, continued.

A central source of uncertainty has been the absence from public view of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who became supreme leader in March. He has not appeared publicly or been heard speaking since taking office, while Iranian officials have questioned whether written messages attributed to him are authentic.

In May, Pezeshkian said he had met with Khamenei. Officials told the Times that Pezeshkian was driven in an ambulance with darkened windows while a secure video connection was established. A person claiming to represent Khamenei then appeared on a screen and relayed messages.

Pezeshkian later told a close associate that he was uncertain whether he had actually communicated with the supreme leader, according to officials familiar with the encounter.

The Iranian president said last month that he had held another meeting with Khamenei lasting seven hours, during which they discussed economic conditions, sanctions, unemployment and the war. He did not disclose how the meeting took place or what Khamenei had said.

Against this backdrop, Iranian political and military leaders have been debating two competing strategies toward the United States.

One faction has advocated returning to negotiations. The other has pushed for escalating attacks on American targets in an effort to strike US naval forces, inflict casualties and drive global oil prices higher.

According to the report, both strategies were intended to bring an end to the US naval blockade of Iran’s southern ports, which has severely disrupted trade and halted oil exports. Iran is also facing a falling currency, rising inflation and a government cash shortage.

Hard-line Revolutionary Guards commanders backed the military option and presented the Supreme National Security Council with a plan under which Iran and allied groups in Yemen and Iraq would intensify attacks, including strikes against regional oil facilities.

Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Gen. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has served as Iran’s leading negotiator with Washington, warned that such a strategy could expose Iran to heavier US strikes and worsening economic pressure.

By last Saturday, however, officials said the faction advocating escalation had prevailed.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Ghalibaf, said the conflict between Iran and the United States had entered a new stage of escalation.

Israel National News is stopping its round-the-clock news updates at this time in honor of the start of Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah in North America, where they are being written now.

Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova!

US President Donald Trump marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks at the Pentagon on Friday, vowing that the United States would never forget the victims and drawing a direct connection between the war on terror launched after the attacks and the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget. That's why we fight today," Trump said during the ceremony, where he was joined by First Lady Melania Trump.

“We don't have a choice. There can only be victory. We fight hard. We fight to win," he added.

A hijacked plane struck the Pentagon on September 11, killing 184 people. Their names were read during Friday's ceremony, accompanied by the tolling of a single bell.

Trump invoked the military campaign against the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization initiated under Republican President George W. Bush as he described the current confrontation with Iran, now in its seventh month.

“Today we salute every member of the United States military who served in the 'War on Terror.' It is a war on sick, horrible terror," Trump said.

“And we salute the service members working right now to ensure the world's number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon."

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth likewise focused his remarks on Iran, saying, “Over the past six months, we have laid waste to the world's most prolific state sponsor of terrorism. Our warriors have fought an Islamic theocracy that has wished us death for nearly half a century."

Trump's comments came amid conflicting assessments over how long the war with Iran could continue. On Wednesday, he predicted that the conflict would conclude immediately after the US midterm elections in November, saying Iran “can't hold out any longer."

He also accused Tehran of attempting to prolong the fighting in order to influence the elections. “They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

Later that day, The Wall Street Journal reported that senior White House officials had privately warned Trump that the conflict could potentially continue for years, possibly through the end of his current term in January 2029.

According to the report, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior advisers have discussed the possibility that Iran will continue resisting US military pressure and the blockade despite Trump's public expectation of a rapid end to the war.

Trump said Thursday that he does not regret launching the war against Iran and would make the same decision again, arguing that the United States had destroyed Iran's nuclear capability.

In an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, Trump said, "I don't believe in the word regret. You can always question yourself a little bit. A few people have asked me that. If I had it to do again, I'd do exactly as I did. I took out their nuclear capability."

Trump said that an Iranian nuclear weapon would have posed a severe threat to Israel, the Middle East and the United States.

"Supposing we were cruising and all of a sudden Iran has a nuclear weapon. They would use it. They're crazy. I deal with them. They're crazy. And they would use it," he said. "They would have wiped out Israel. They would have wiped out the Middle East. And they would have started hitting a couple of our cities."

(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Rosh Hashanah in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)

Israel National News' Israel desk is stopping its round-the-clock news updates at this time in honor of Rosh Hashanah. Jerusalem candle lighting time is 18:11 on Friday. Our North American desk will keep you informed until the 18:53 EDT candle lighting time in New York.

The updates from Israel will resume Sunday night, following the conclusion of Rosh Hashanah at 19:24 Jerusalem time.

Shana Tova!

An Iranian missile attack damaged multiple US military aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan this week, according to a US official cited by Reuters on Thursday.

The official said one A-10 Thunderbolt II, commonly known as the Warthog, was struck and lost a wing. Around eight F-15 fighter jets also sustained minor damage but were subsequently returned to service.

The official was confirming an earlier CBS report that several US fighter aircraft had been damaged in the Iranian attack.

The strike took place Tuesday, after US forces reported destroying five Iranian crude oil tankers in retaliation for two ballistic missile attacks by Iran's Revolutionary Guards against a US Navy warship over the preceding two days.

According to the US official, American forces launched approximately 30 Patriot interceptors to defend against the Iranian missiles.

Reuters, citing the Congressional Research Service, also reported that by May, 42 US military aircraft had been lost or damaged during the conflict. Since the war began in February, 18 US service members have been killed and more than 800 wounded, according to the report.

The report also cited a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimate that roughly 65% of US Patriot interceptors were used between February and July. That would leave fewer than 850 interceptors out of the 2,330 available before the war.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Washington would continue responding to Iranian attacks on US naval forces while maintaining its economic pressure campaign against Tehran.

Speaking to reporters in Ecuador, Rubio said, "They continue to fire on naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers. They don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers."

Referring to Tuesday's strikes, Rubio added, "They lost five more last night. Four were damaged, and one was sunk. They'll continue to pay a price for that. In the meantime, we're going to continue to strangle them economically."

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has no regrets over the war with Iran and would make the same decision again, emphasizing that his administration succeeded in destroying Iran's nuclear capability.

In an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, Trump said, "I don't believe in the word regret. You can always question yourself a little bit. A few people have asked me that. If I had it to do again, I'd do exactly as I did. I took out their nuclear capability."

Trump argued that allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon would have posed an existential threat to Israel and the wider Middle East, as well as to the United States.

"Supposing we were cruising and all of a sudden Iran has a nuclear weapon. They would use it. They're crazy. I deal with them. They're crazy. And they would use it," he said. "They would have wiped out Israel. They would have wiped out the Middle East. And they would have started hitting a couple of our cities."

Addressing the economic impact of the conflict, Trump pointed to the performance of the US stock market, saying, "The stock market right now is at the all-time high....during this whole little conflict, we call it a conflict, the stock market's at an all-time high. The highest it's ever been. Much higher than when I started. You know, when I started it was at 49,000. Now it's at 53. It's going to be 54 pretty soon. It's going up. Continues to go up. Oil went up."

Trump also claimed that Iran is seeking to influence the midterm elections by hoping to oust him so that the Democrats would allow it to retain a nuclear capability. "They're trying to do anything possible to get me out, because they think the Democrats will let them essentially have a nuclear weapon. They're not going to have a nuclear weapon."

The interview came one day after Trump warned at a Republican rally in Texas that the United States had detected activity at Iran's heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility.

"We notice there's a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard," Trump said.

Earlier Thursday, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that the UN nuclear watchdog had detected construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain.

Trump had issued a similar warning last week, saying the United States could soon target the facility.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he told reporters at the Oval Office, adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said it had received a report of two vessels being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 6.5 kilometers west of Khasab, Oman.

According to the agency, the crew of another vessel reported seeing four unidentified missiles strike the two vessels. A fire broke out on one of them, while the condition of the second vessel was unknown. UKMTO reports indicate that several vessels in the area have been affected in recent days amid ongoing military operations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Thursday, the eve of Rosh Hashanah, that Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons as long as he remains Prime Minister.

Speaking at the Western Wall, Netanyahu addressed President Donald Trump's statement that Iran is attempting to obtain nuclear weapons once again.

"President Trump announced this evening that Iran is trying to arm itself again with nuclear weapons. That is true," Netanyahu said.

"After we destroyed its immediate ability to produce nuclear bombs, both in Operation Rising Lion and in Operation Roaring Lion, they are trying again."

Netanyahu then made a commitment ahead of the Jewish New Year: "I pledge to you here, at the Western Wall, ahead of Rosh Hashanah: As long as I am Prime Minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons."

The Prime Minister added that Israel is continuing to strike the Iranian axis.

"At the same time, we are striking the Iranian axis, not only very hard in the Gaza Strip, but also in Lebanon. We destroyed the Beaufort Ridge, and now we are dealing with the Ali Taher Ridge."

"More to come," Netanyahu concluded.

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday sent Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) wishes to the Iranian Jewish community, while warning Tehran against renewing attacks on Israel.

"Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, I want to send wishes for a happy new year to the Jewish community in Iran and wish them a good and safe year," Katz said, addressing Iran's Jews. "You are part of a glorious Jewish history and will always be in our hearts."

"And to the Iranian people, I wish: Next year in Tehran, liberated from oppression and tyranny."

He added, "Given the possibility that, due to the economic stranglehold and the intense pressure Iran is under, it may decide to act against Israel, I once again warn the Iranian leadership: Any attack on Israel, for any reason and in any location, will be met with a powerful response that will inflict severe blows on Iran unlike any it has suffered to date, including against its key energy facilities, which provide resources and capabilities for Iran's war and terrorist apparatus and for attacks on the citizens of the State of Israel."

"In accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister and my own instructions, the IDF is on high alert and prepared to carry out the mission.

"Such a blow would set Iran back decades and further undermine the Ayatollah regime, which the Iranian people so deeply despise and long to see fall.

"And to the Jewish people in Israel and around the world, I wish a happy new year - and may our enemies, our haters, and all those who seek our harm be removed."

US President Donald Trump discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran at a rally in Texas on Wednesday night, warning the Islamic Republic against carrying out nuclear activity at the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility.

“We notice there's a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute, because we will have to hit them very hard," he said.

Noting that the war against Iran is necessary in order to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon, Trump continued, “For 51 years, people have been trying to, and other Presidents have been trying to talk them out of it, but they don't understand talk, these people. They only understand one thing, and that's they're getting plenty of it."

Trump recently similarly warned that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he told reporters at the Oval Office last week, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

At the same rally on Wednesday night, Trump joked that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz should be renamed in his honor.

Trump said he expects oil prices to fall once the United States prevails in the conflict, declaring that they "will be going down as soon as we win the war with Iran, which is taking place right now."

He then claimed that the US controls the waterway and quipped, "We'll win it. We're winning it. We control the Hormuz Strait. I think we should call it the Trump Strait. I should get something out of it. The Trump Strait."

"I'll have an announcement, we'll call it the Trump Strait. And I'm sure the Iranian leadership will be thrilled with that," the President continued. "I'd like to tell you it was their idea. It was not their idea. Don't think they're too happy about it. I don't think they're too happy."

Earlier Wednesday, Trump had told reporters that he expects the conflict to conclude following the US midterm elections in November.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," he said, arguing that Iran "can't hold out any longer."

Trump also accused Tehran of attempting to prolong the conflict in order to influence the elections. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

The Wall Street Journal later reported that senior White House officials have privately cautioned Trump that the conflict could persist for years and potentially continue until the end of his current term in January 2029.

According to the report, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior advisers have discussed the possibility that Iran will continue resisting the US blockade and military campaign, despite Trump's public expectation of a much quicker end to the fighting.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales defended the administration's strategy in comments to The Wall Street Journal, saying, “President Trump has destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and is crippling what’s left of its abysmal economy with the most powerful naval blockade in world history and crushing sanctions," and adding, “Only President Trump knows what he will do and when."

Senior White House officials have privately warned President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could continue for years, potentially lasting until the end of his current term in January 2029, according to US officials who spoke to The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior advisers have discussed the possibility that Tehran will continue resisting the US blockade and military pressure, despite Trump's public predictions of a swift conclusion, according to the report.

The report comes after Trump said Wednesday that the war would end “immediately" after the November midterm elections because Iran would no longer be able to withstand the pressure.

Trump has privately expressed a desire to bring the seven-month-old conflict to a quick end, according to the officials quoted by The Wall Street Journal. The fighting has killed 18 US servicemembers, while the administration has simultaneously pursued a long-term economic campaign against Tehran through a naval blockade and sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to dismantle its nuclear program.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described the strategy, known as “Operation Economic Outcast," as an alternative to major combat operations. US gasoline prices averaged $4.22 a gallon Wednesday, compared with $4.01 a month earlier and $3.19 a year ago, according to AAA.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales defended the administration's approach, telling The Wall Street Journal, “President Trump has destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and is crippling what’s left of its abysmal economy with the most powerful naval blockade in world history and crushing sanctions," and added, “Only President Trump knows what he will do and when."

The private discussions among Trump's advisers contrast with his repeated assertions that Iran's military has already been defeated and that its regime will soon capitulate. Vance said last week that he would not describe the ongoing confrontation as a “war," while acknowledging that he did not know when the hostilities would end and rejecting what he called an “artificial timeline."

“It would be irresponsible for us to write out our strategy and our timeline for an Iranian nation that simply cannot honor its commitments and cannot stop shooting at commercial ships," Vance told reporters.

The report comes as Rubio said Wednesday that Iran will continue to face consequences for attacks on US naval vessels and that Washington will maintain its economic pressure campaign.

Speaking to reporters in Ecuador, Rubio said, "They continue to fire on naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers. They don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers."

Regarding the latest US strikes Tuesday night, Rubio said, "They lost five more last night. Four were damaged, and one was sunk. They'll continue to pay a price for that. In the meantime, we're going to continue to strangle them economically."

Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago regarding a hostile aircraft infiltration in several areas in northern Israel, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that it was determined to be a false identification.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran will face continued consequences for attacks on American naval vessels, while the United States will maintain its campaign of economic pressure against Tehran.

Speaking to reporters in Ecuador, Rubio described the US response to Iranian attacks, saying, "They continue to fire on naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers. They don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers."

Referring to the most recent strikes on Tuesday night, Rubio added, "They lost five more last night. Four were damaged, and one was sunk. They'll continue to pay a price for that. In the meantime, we're going to continue to strangle them economically."

President Donald Trump also discussed the conflict with Iran during remarks to reporters Wednesday, predicting that the war will come to an end shortly after the US midterm elections in November.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," Trump said, arguing that Iran "can't hold out any longer."

Trump accused Tehran of seeking to prolong the conflict in an effort to affect the elections. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

The President also commented on the US strikes carried out Tuesday night, warning, "You're going to see a lot more."

US President Donald Trump spoke to the press on Wednesday about the conflict with Iran and shared his assessment that it will end after the US midterm elections in November.

"I think the war will end immediately after the election," the President said, explaining that Iran "can't hold out any longer."

Trump claimed that Iran is prolonging the war in an attempt to influence the upcoming elections. "They're desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon."

The President also addressed the US strikes overnight, which destroyed nine Iranian ships, and warned: "You're going to see a lot more."

Trump also shared that in any future deal, the US would seek more from Iran than it did in the past: "I'm doing much more than a nuclear deal. There's a lot more than nuclear... That's 99.9, but there's going to be a lot of other things on the table that wouldn't have been on the table three months ago."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited IDF installations on the summit of Mount Hermon in Syrian territory on Wednesday, together with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

In his remarks, the Defense Minister stressed the importance of the Israeli military presence in the area and sent a sharp message to the political echelons in Syria and the region. "From here, we defend the communities in the Golan Heights and the Galilee, keep an eye on the Hezbollah stronghold in Lebanon's Beka'a, and send a very strong and clear message to the President of Syria who is sitting 35 kilometers down there in the palace in Damascus: we are here in the Hermon, we are in the security zone, and we are not moving from here to protect against threats by any Jihadist element on this side of the border or from within the Syrian system itself."

Katz detailed the operational moves underway every night and connected the activity in Syria with that on the other fronts. "We destroyed the enemy's infrastructure in Gaza, Lebanon, and here too, IDF soldiers operate nightly to destroy the infrastructure of Jihadist forces to defend the communities of the Golan and Galilee, and on the State of Israel."

The Defense Minister also addressed the confrontation with Iran and efforts to thwart threats against Israel, stressing that the defense establishment is prepared to continue operating if necessary. “Iran remains in the background. We struck it twice, and when necessary, we will strike it a third time to continue thwarting the threats. We eliminated the nuclear threat, killed Khamenei and damaged its strategic capabilities. We will continue to act this way against every threat - both the Shiite axis led by Iran and the Hamas axis led by the Muslim Brotherhood here and across the region. We will ensure the security of all residents of the State of Israel."

CNN reported that US officials assess that Iran plans to use the “Pickaxe Mountain" nuclear site, buried beneath granite, as a shelter for its nuclear program.

The assessment follows a report by a group of analysts who reviewed six years of satellite imagery and identified a “surge in construction" at the site.

The United States is reportedly considering ways to strike underground facilities.

US President Donald Trump warned on Friday that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his position that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

Trump was also asked about comments made Thursday by Vice President JD Vance, who said he would not characterize the ongoing conflict with Iran as a "war".

With the United States having resumed strikes against Iranian targets for the first time in recent weeks, Trump was asked how he would describe the confrontation.

"A lot of people don't call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing. We did Venezuela and we did this. In Venezuela we lost nobody, and in this we lost 18 people. And Vietnam - you lost a hundred thousand people," he replied.

Dozens of missiles were launched towards US bases in Jordan following a US attack on Iranian oil tankers, reports said.

The barrage was clearly visible from Israel, but did not cross into Israeli territory.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) published footage of the M/T Riesco sinking on Tuesday in the Gulf of Oman, after being destroyed by CENTCOM forces in response to attempted IRGC attacks on a US Navy warship.

Lebanese media outlets reported on Wednesday morning that the Israel Air Force carried out a strike in the area of the village of Rummaneh in southern Lebanon.

A US official told Fox News that 100% of American troops stationed in Jordan are accounted for and that there were no American casualties in the Iranian attacks carried out overnight.

Iran launched a barrage of missiles towards Jordan early Wednesday morning, after US forces struck multiple Iranian oil tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The missiles were clearly visible across large parts of Israel. Israeli security officials stressed that Israel was not involved in the interception efforts and that no missiles entered Israeli airspace.

Iranian officials confirmed that Iran attacked the Muwaffaq Salti and Prince Hassan military bases in Jordan.

Explosions were also reportedly heard in Bahrain following launches from Iran.

The IRGC confirmed that it launched missiles at a US military base in Jordan in response to US attacks on Iranian oil tankers.

At the same time, the IRGC announced plans to attack oil tankers in Kuwait and Bahrain and called on their crews to “abandon the ships."

Jordan announced that 20 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran toward its territory, with its air defense systems intercepting and destroying 18 of them.

According to the statement, the two remaining missiles landed in areas away from population centers. No casualties were reported in the attack.

A US official told Reuters on Tuesday evening that the US struck the tankers following attempted missile attacks against a US Navy warship.

According to the official, the strikes were carried out after additional Iranian attempts to launch missiles at the American vessel.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) subsequently announced that its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the IRGC targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the past two days.

“The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed," the statement stressed.

The US confirmation followed reports in Iranian media that an Iranian oil tanker was hit near Kharg Island, a key center of Iran's oil exports. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that the vessel was struck by a US missile about four miles from the island.

Tasnim said the tanker was hit while in the anchorage area and that there were no reported casualties. The crew was evacuating the vessel, while Iranian authorities were investigating the incident.

The extent of the damage was not immediately known. Tasnim said additional information would be released as it became available.

A second Iranian vessel was subsequently struck near Kharg Island, according to Iran's state-run Student News Network (SNN), which provided no further details.

Amid the attacks, the IRGC Navy issued a warning to tanker crews operating near ports in Kuwait and Bahrain, ordering them to leave their vessels immediately. The Iranian force said the ships would be targeted in retaliation for the US strikes on Iranian tankers.

“Given the hostile actions of the terrorist US military in targeting several Iranian oil tankers, we warn all tanker crews in the vicinity of ports in Kuwait and Bahrain," the IRGC Navy said in a statement carried by state media.

The statement accused Kuwait and Bahrain of hosting American forces and supporting Washington's actions against Iran. It said the two countries “host these terrorists and are partners in their actions," before warning: “Immediately leave your vessels, whether at anchorage or at the docks, because they will be targeted."

Tuesday’s incident comes a week after American forces carried out attacks around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Three days later, on Friday, Trump warned that the US could target Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian facility where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," Trump said in the Oval Office. He added, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

On Saturday, US forces struck three Iranian oil tankers, while Iranian state media reported the following day that Iran had launched a Qassem Basir missile.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran Tuesday that Washington will respond to every Iranian attempt to strike American military assets, as tensions between the two countries continued to escalate.

Speaking to reporters, Rubio described the exchange of attacks as a direct cycle of action and retaliation.

"The back and forth is pretty straightforward, and that is that Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers. And I think you'll see that again today."

Rubio spoke after US forces attacked Iranian oil tankers following attempts by Iran to launch missiles at an American vessel.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces had destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over a two-day period.

“The US warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed," the statement stressed.

Iran subsequently responded with missile launches toward Jordan early Wednesday morning. Iranian officials confirmed that the Islamic Republic had targeted the Muwaffaq Salti and Prince Hassan military bases in Jordan.

Explosions were also reportedly heard in Bahrain following missile launches from Iran.

Iran threatened the United States with what it called "economic warfare" on Tuesday, while an Iranian official warned of a new maritime exclusion zone in the Persian Gulf and Tehran said it had used an advanced ballistic missile against US warships.

The threats come amid renewed exchanges between Iran and the US in the six-month-old war. US forces last struck Iranian targets on Saturday, hitting three Iranian oil tankers, while Iranian state media reported the following day that Iran had launched a Qassem Basir missile.

Iran has continued disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz despite US efforts to reopen the strategic waterway. The war began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28, and there has been no indication of a diplomatic breakthrough.

The Islamic Republic has said it intends to announce a new restricted maritime area in the Gulf in the coming days, together with maps outlining a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the restricted area would begin where the US blockade of Iran starts and extend into the Gulf. He said vessels entering the zone would be placed on an Iranian sanctions list.

On Tuesday, Rezaei issued further economic and military threats in a post on X.

"In recent days, Washington has received a clear warning from Iran’s new missiles. Economic warfare will be met by a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf to the blockade perimeter. The operational posture toward U.S. warships and bases has been fundamentally recalibrated," he wrote.

Rezaei appeared to be referring to the Qassem Basir ballistic missile, which Iranian media said had been launched at US warships near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said its vessels had evaded missile attacks.

Iran has described the Qassem Basir as an upgraded missile featuring greater maneuverability and a guidance system designed to operate against electronic warfare and evade missile defenses. Iran's Fars news agency reported that the missile was first used in combat against Israel in June 2025.

Despite large-scale US attacks that have damaged Iran's conventional military forces and placed further pressure on its economy, Tehran has retained missile and drone capabilities. Iran has used those capabilities to threaten tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission and to strike Gulf countries hosting US military bases.

The renewed threats come as the US naval blockade is placing increasing pressure on Iranian oil exports.

According to ship-tracking firm Kpler, cited in a Wall Street Journal report on Monday, no Iranian crude has passed through the US blockade since the Navy reinstated it in mid-July. Iran continues loading limited quantities of crude onto tankers, but that oil has remained inside the Gulf.

At the same time, Iran's stock of crude aboard vessels already outside the blockade has declined sharply. Kpler estimated that the amount had fallen from approximately 90 million barrels in mid-July to about 29 million barrels. Those supplies continue to provide revenue to Tehran but could be exhausted next month.

Gulf oil officials also said their monitoring of customer purchases had identified few Iranian crude cargoes being traded.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has meanwhile fallen substantially. An average of approximately 10 commodity vessels per day crossed the strait during the past 10 days, the lowest level since May.

Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments traveled through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump said that oil prices would fall sharply following a US victory over Iran and reiterated that Iran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.

"Oil prices will drop precipitously, like everything else is dropping (but more!), when we WIN the war with Iran. Three Dollars a gallon, but ultimately, below Two Dollars a gallon. It will all happen quickly, and Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon," Trump wrote on social media.

US forces have redirected 94 commercial vessels, disabled three others and boarded two as part of efforts to enforce the American maritime blockade against Iran, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday.

CENTCOM wrote in a social media post that the USS George H.W. Bush is supporting the operation in the Arabian Sea, with the actions intended to ensure “complete compliance."

The naval blockade was first imposed by Washington on April 13, giving CENTCOM authority to inspect vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports as part of an effort to curb Tehran's petroleum exports and maritime activity. A temporary 60-day agreement reached in June suspended the embargo in exchange for unrestricted merchant shipping, but the US restored the blockade in July after renewed armed clashes and attacks on vessels in the region.

The latest maritime measures come as Washington continues to increase pressure on Tehran on both economic and military fronts.

President Donald Trump predicted Monday that oil prices would fall sharply following an American victory over Iran, while again insisting that Tehran will not obtain a nuclear weapon.

"Oil prices will drop precipitously, like everything else is dropping (but more!), when we WIN the war with Iran. Three Dollars a gallon, but ultimately, below Two Dollars a gallon. It will all happen quickly, and Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon. MAGA! President DJT," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The Trump administration has also stepped up its economic pressure campaign. The Treasury Department launched “Operation Economic Outcast" two weeks ago, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as an unprecedented effort to isolate Iran economically and restrict revenue reaching the Iranian regime.

At the same time, the US has resumed military strikes against Iran. American forces carried out attacks last week around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Three days later, on Friday, Trump warned that the US could target Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian facility where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," Trump said in the Oval Office. He added, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

Iran, meanwhile, has announced plans of its own concerning the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Top security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Sunday that Tehran intends to establish a new “prohibited zone" in the area.

“In the coming days, a prohibited zone will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz. This zone will start from the US Navy’s blockade line and include areas of the Persian Gulf. Any ship entering this new zone will be placed on the sanctions list" of Iran, Rezaei told Iranian state television.

The Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in southern Lebanon overnight Monday, where terrorists were also present.

Earlier, the IDF issued an evacuation warning to residents of the village of Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon.

"Following the blatant violation of the ceasefire, after Hezbollah launched a UAV toward IDF troops, we are forced to respond," the IDF stated. "Civilians in the area must evacuate immediately."

In a statement published by the IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, the military said that an explosive drone had been launched toward IDF troops and that, following the violation, "the IDF is forced to act with force."

The warning was directed at those located in a building marked in red on an accompanying map, as well as in nearby buildings: "You are located near a Hezbollah facility against which the IDF is about to operate."

Residents were instructed to evacuate the buildings immediately and remain at least 300 meters away. The IDF warned that remaining in the area "endangers your lives."

The incident follows multiple earlier incidents last week, in which Hezbollah terrorists launched explosive drones toward IDF troops.

In response, the Israeli Air Force struck weapons storage facilities intended to be used by Hezbollah terrorists to plan and direct terror attacks against IDF troops in the security zone.

The United States may ultimately prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon without reaching a negotiated agreement with Tehran, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday as the conflict between the two countries entered its seventh month.

“There may not be a nuclear agreement. It may be simply destroying their capabilities to do it," Wright said on ABC News’ “This Week." “An agreement may await the next administration in Iran. We simply don’t know that."

Wright's comments indicate that the Trump administration could continue pursuing the destruction of Iran's nuclear capabilities rather than relying on a diplomatic agreement to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly identified stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon as a central goal of the US campaign. At the same time, he has continued seeking a negotiated agreement with Tehran during the war, which has driven energy prices higher around the world.

Asked whether the administration would continue military strikes if Iran attempts to rebuild its nuclear infrastructure, Wright said, “You have to destroy their capabilities to do it."

“We are degrading their capacity to develop nuclear weapons and ultimately to deliver them if they develop them," he said. “It is a 47-year-long effort. This is not trivial, but the United States will get the job done and we will work in cooperation with our allies in the region."

Wright later addressed the issue again during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation," emphasizing that Trump still favors diplomacy when possible.

Wright said the president’s preference “is always to have a negotiated settlement and not use a military solution unless absolutely necessary."

He also described the US military's current economic objective in the region as restricting Iran's energy exports.

“The biggest role of our military in the region right now is to stop the export of any Iranian crude or crude-related products, natural gas, whatever," he said. “We are strangling their economy to try to bring either a change in policy from the existing regime or a new regime."

Wright’s comments come as Washington has intensified its economic campaign against Tehran. The US Treasury Department launched “Operation Economic Outcast" last week, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent describing it as an unprecedented campaign aimed at isolating Iran economically and cutting off revenue available to the Iranian regime.

The economic pressure has accompanied renewed US military action against Iran. American strikes resumed this past week, hitting targets around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

On Friday, three days after the US strikes, President Donald Trump warned that American forces could soon target Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian facility where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

Trump reiterated in the Oval Office that Iran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

Trump had previously said he did not expect the renewed confrontation with Iran to continue for much longer.

Asked how long the latest escalation would last, Trump responded, “Not too long". He subsequently suggested that Iran could have limited ability to withstand continued American attacks.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take," Trump said of Iran.

Lebanese media outlets reported that the IDF struck a vehicle in the Nabatieh area of southern Lebanon.

According to the reports, one person was killed and two others were injured in the strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday during a New Year's toast at the cabinet meeting that Israel is determined to complete the mission of toppling the Iranian regime.

He warned Tehran against another attack on Israel and said that in such a case, it would be hit hard.

Netanyahu opened by discussing Israel's achievements and its situation vis-à-vis its enemies: "We are at the start of the New Year, and more than ever, Israel is ahead. Thanks to the wise and courageous decisions we made together at this table, thanks to our soldiers' heroism, thanks to our strong standing, we achieved great things."

The Prime Minister claimed that Israel is stronger than ever; our enemies are weaker than ever. Together with the United States, we achieved great achievements by removing an existential threat from above our heads. We removed the atomic bombs and ballistic missiles, and we hit the Iranian axis with great force."

Netanyahu then sent a direct threat to Iran: "We are determined to defend ourselves; we are determined to strike our enemies. They don't attack us. Iran is avoiding it, and it knows why. Of course, it can err and make a mistake and attack us. It sustains a hit like one it hasn't even imagined."

Netanyahu also addressed Israel's other enemies: "Don't mess with us. This nation knows how to unite in trying times, and it is currently the strongest power in the Middle East, and some say beyond as well."

The Prime Minister commended the security forces on all fronts: "From here, I want to bless the heroic soldiers of the IDF and the security branches who labor constantly. We are eliminating terrorists around the clock - in Lebanon, in Gaza, and in Judea and Samaria."

He also clarified that, as far as he is concerned, the war is not over, placing the toppling of the Iranian regime at the top of the remaining missions: "The achievements are immense, but there is still more to complete. I mean, first and foremost, the toppling of the regime. This regime in Iran - its end is near. It is weak; it is fighting for its life; it is faltering."

According to Netanyahu, "There is another mission to complete, which we are determined to bring about. This will permanently change the face of the Middle East and the history of our people. We know that we are determined to do this, and we are determined and know that we are capable of doing this."

The Prime Minister ended with a wish and prayer for the New Year: "Therefore, I say: May the year and its curses end, and may a year with its blessings begin - blessings greater than we have ever had. A happy New Year to the people of Israel."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called Saturday for the United States to end its war with Iran, arguing that the conflict is contributing to higher gasoline prices and damaging the American economy.

In a social media post, Sanders described President Donald Trump's “illegal and disastrous war in Iran" as responsible for “thousands of casualties" and said it was “wreaking havoc on the economy."

Sanders pointed to the national average gasoline price, which he said had risen to $4.15 per gallon over the Labor Day weekend.

“We must end this war NOW," Sanders wrote.

The comments came after the United States resumed strikes against Iranian targets during the past week. The attacks included targets around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to CENTCOM, US forces struck Iranian air defense positions, radar systems, maritime assets, facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites.

Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles toward US military bases in Jordan. The Jordanian military said 13 missiles were fired at the kingdom, with 10 intercepted. The other three detonated away from populated areas.

Trump on Friday warned that the United States could soon attack Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian site where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his opposition to Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

Washington has also intensified economic pressure on Tehran alongside the military campaign. Last week, the Treasury Department launched “Operation Economic Outcast", which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described as an unprecedented effort by the United States to economically isolate Iran and restrict the revenue available to the Iranian regime.

Sanders has repeatedly criticized Trump and has also been a vocal critic of Israeli policy. He has introduced four resolutions seeking to block US arms sales to Israel, all of which were defeated.

The senator has also accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza, using the controversial term to characterize the ongoing conflict.

Last July, Sanders strongly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, D.C., where Netanyahu met with Trump.

Terrorists from the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched two drones towards IDF soldiers operating in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon early Sunday morning.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated that IDF soldiers opened fire and downed one of the drones. No IDF injuries were reported.

In response, the IDF is now striking in southern Lebanon, said the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, noting that the incident constitutes a blatant violation by the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

"IDF soldiers will continue to operate in the Security Zone in order to remove any threat towards Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers. The IDF is currently operating and will continue to act with determination against Hezbollah’s repeated attempts to harm IDF soldiers," the statement said.

The Hezbollah terror group on Friday night launched a drone towards IDF soldiers in the Security Zone. The soldiers fired towards the drone, intercepting it, and there were no injuries.

Following this, the IDF struck terrorists and infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the southern Lebanon area.

As part of the strikes, the IDF struck weapon storage facilities intended to be used by Hezbollah terrorists to plan and direct terror attacks against IDF soldiers in the Security Zone and Israeli civilians.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday night published footage of its forces destroying the M/T Kylo, an unladen crude oil tanker, in the Gulf of Oman.

In a statement, CENTCOM said that its forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers during the day on Saturday after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters.

A US aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer successfully evaded multiple unprovoked Iranian attacks. No American personnel were harmed, the statement said.

“Following Iran’s failed attacks," continued the statement, “CENTCOM permanently disabled the IRGC crude oil carriers M/T Downy off the coast of Kharg Island and M/T Stark 1 near Jask. American forces also completely destroyed the unladen crude oil carrier M/T Kylo (also known as the ‘Noxen’) in the Gulf of Oman, striking the vessel in multiple critical locations to render it inoperable after the crew was directed to abandon ship."

CENTCOM further said that the three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies. Iran has no means by which to defend them.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost -taking out three of yours," said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. “We will not hesitate to defend American forces, and if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet."

This past week, the US renewed its strikes on targets in Iran, including in the areas of Qeshm Island, Chabahar, and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM stated that US forces targeted Iranian air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine-laying capabilities, and communications sites.

Iran subsequently launched ballistic missiles toward US military bases in Jordan. The Jordanian military said 13 ballistic missiles were fired toward the kingdom, of which 10 were intercepted. The remaining three exploded in areas far from population centers.

Two US officials told Reuters that no American personnel in Jordan were injured.

Iranian media later reported that Tehran had attacked a US military base in Bahrain with drones, though there was no official confirmation of the report. Explosions were also heard in Kuwait, where the military said the country's air defenses were engaging Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.

Following the completion of the destruction of the tunnels on the Ali al-Taher Ridge, Israel's defense establishment is advancing a plan to significantly reduce the number of IDF forces deployed in southern Lebanon, Kan News reported.

Security officials say discussions have recently been held on establishing a new security zone that would allow the IDF to continue protecting Israeli communities near the border while maintaining a smaller military presence.

Under the emerging plan, the IDF would withdraw from some of the forward positions it currently holds - including, in certain areas, positions north of the Litani River, such as the Beaufort area - and redeploy along a new line dubbed the "Gray Line."

Under the proposed arrangement, troops would be stationed at outposts established inside Lebanese territory, approximately three to four kilometers from the Israeli border. From these positions, the forces would continue operating to protect northern Israeli communities and thwart threats.

Defense officials stressed that the plan has not yet been finalized and has not yet been submitted to the political echelon for approval.

Among the key issues that remain unresolved are whether the areas evacuated by the IDF would be transferred to the responsibility of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as well as the potential implications of the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

Although no final decision has been made, preparations within the defense establishment indicate an intention to significantly reduce the number of IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon in the coming months, while maintaining the operational capabilities necessary to defend Israel's northern border.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz stressed on Friday that Israel will remain in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area until Hezbollah has completely disarmed.

The Hezbollah terror group on Friday night launched a drone towards IDF soldiers in the Security Zone. The soldiers fired towards the drone, intercepting it, and there were no injuries.

Following this, the IDF struck terrorists and infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the southern Lebanon area.

As part of the strikes, the IDF struck weapon storage facilities intended to be used by Hezbollah terrorists to plan and direct terror attacks against IDF soldiers in the Security Zone and Israeli civilians.

"The strikes were carried out to remove an immediate threat," the IDF emphasized.

The statement warned, "The IDF will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers, and will continue operating to remove threats while remaining committed to the ceasefire agreement."

Arutz Sheva-Israel National News is stopping its round-the-clock news updates at this time in honor of the start of Shabbat in North America, where they are being written now.

Updates will resume Saturday night from Israel, following the conclusion of Shabbat at 19:35 Jerusalem time.

Shabbat Shalom!

The IDF said Friday that its soldiers shot down a drone launched by Hezbollah toward troops operating in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the drone was intercepted after soldiers opened fire. No Israeli soldiers were injured in the incident.

The IDF said it subsequently launched strikes against targets in southern Lebanon in response to the attack.

"This constitutes a blatant violation by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. IDF soldiers will continue to operate in the Security Zone in order to remove any threat towards Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers."

"The IDF is currently operating and will continue to act with determination against Hezbollah’s repeated attempts to harm IDF soldiers," stressed the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.

On Thursday, the IDF stated that its troops had finished clearing Hezbollah out of the Ali al-Taher Ridge in the Security Zone in Lebanon.

The soldiers achieved operational control of the ridge area, both above and below ground, and cleared the area of terrorists. Some of the terrorists were eliminated, while others fled the area.

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday promised that Israel will not leave the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.

In a statement, he said, "The capture of the Ali al-Taher Ridge marks the completion of the phase establishing control over the security zone in southern Lebanon."

"Following the maneuver to the anti-tank line, the capture of the Beaufort, and the IDF's establishment on the ridge overlooking and protecting the communities of the eastern Galilee, a decision was made to maneuver toward the Ali al-Taher Ridge following intelligence indicating the presence of Hezbollah command-and-control tunnels at the site."

Katz emphasized, "The Ali al-Taher tunnels served as a command center for attacks against our forces and the Galilee region. At the same time, they served as the final commanding position defending the Nabatieh area, which is of great importance to Hezbollah - hence their strategic significance."

(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)

US President Donald Trump warned Friday that the United States could soon strike Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified Iranian facility where Tehran has allegedly been expanding its nuclear infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump reiterated his position that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.

"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said, before adding, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon...if there was anything going on with Pickaxe."

Trump was also asked about comments made Thursday by Vice President JD Vance, who said he would not characterize the ongoing conflict with Iran as a "war".

With the United States having resumed strikes against Iranian targets for the first time in recent weeks, Trump was asked how he would describe the confrontation.

"A lot of people don't call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it's small potatoes for us. It's not a big thing. We did Venezuela and we did this. In Venezuela we lost nobody, and in this we lost 18 people. And Vietnam - you lost a hundred thousand people," he replied.

Vance spoke a day after Trump said he did not expect the renewed confrontation with Iran to continue for much longer.

Asked how long the latest escalation would last, Trump responded, “Not too long". He subsequently suggested that Iran could have limited ability to withstand continued American attacks.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take," Trump said of Iran.

Trump also said the US was ready to launch further strikes against Iran if necessary.

“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we are prepared to do another one anytime we want," he stressed.

(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)

Iranian media reported on Friday evening that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched a surprise ballistic missile attack against US bases in Jordan.

Al-Arabiya reported air defense activity in Jordan and sirens and explosions reportedly were heard in the area.

A US official told Channel 12 News’ Barak Ravid that at this stage, there is no knowledge of attacks on US bases in Jordan.

Earlier this week, US forces launched strikes against IRGC targets in Iran, including in the areas of Qeshm Island, Chabahar, and Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM stated that US forces targeted Iranian air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine-laying capabilities, and communications sites.

Iran subsequently launched ballistic missiles toward US military bases in Jordan. The Jordanian military said 13 ballistic missiles were fired toward the kingdom, of which 10 were intercepted. The remaining three exploded in areas far from population centers.

Two US officials told Reuters that no American personnel in Jordan were injured.

Iranian media later reported that Tehran had attacked a US military base in Bahrain with drones, though there was no official confirmation of the report. Explosions were also heard in Kuwait, where the military said the country's air defenses were engaging Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he does not expect the renewed conflict with Iran to continue for much longer, as he discussed the latest escalation with reporters in the Oval Office.

Asked how long the latest escalation was likely to continue, Trump replied, “Not too long". He subsequently expressed a similar assessment of the broader conflict, saying Iran may have limited capacity to withstand continued US strikes.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take," Trump said of Iran.

(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)

Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' Israel desk is stopping its round-the-clock news updates at this time in honor of Shabbat. Jerusalem candle lighting time is 18:20 on Friday. Our North American desk will keep you informed until the 19:05 EDT candle lighting time in New York.

The updates from Israel will resume Saturday night, following the conclusion of Shabbat at 19:35 in Jerusalem.

Shabbat Shalom!

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday promised that Israel will not leave the Ali al-Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon until the Hezbollah terror organization is disarmed.

In a statement, he said, "The capture of the Ali al-Taher Ridge marks the completion of the phase establishing control over the security zone in southern Lebanon."

"Following the maneuver to the anti-tank line, the capture of the Beaufort, and the IDF's establishment on the ridge overlooking and protecting the communities of the eastern Galilee, a decision was made to maneuver toward the Ali al-Taher Ridge following intelligence indicating the presence of Hezbollah command-and-control tunnels at the site."

Katz emphasized, "The Ali al-Taher tunnels served as a command center for attacks against our forces and the Galilee region. At the same time, they served as the final commanding position defending the Nabatieh area, which is of great importance to Hezbollah - hence their strategic significance."

"The IDF operated on the ridge under difficult terrain conditions, both in offensive operations and in defending our forces.

"I closely followed the operations on the ridge, including maintaining contact with the forces in the field, and was deeply impressed by their commitment to the mission," he added, noting, "We imposed a heavy blackout on details of the operation out of concern for the safety of our forces."

"I salute the determination of the IDF command and the courage of the soldiers. In a complex and systematic operation, the mission was completed and the tunnels were cleared of terrorists. The IDF will now complete the neutralization of the tunnels and deploy in the appropriate tactical manner to maintain control of the ridge and prevent the enemy from reestablishing itself in the area."

Concluding his statements, Katz stressed, "Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and I are leading a clear and uncompromising policy, implemented every day by the IDF: Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon and the threats to the residents of the Galilee are removed."

"The capture of Ali al-Taher is an important step toward achieving that goal."

US President Donald Trump said the central reason for the war with Iran is to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, arguing that American strikes have severely damaged the country's military and nuclear capabilities.

In an interview with British journalist Bev Turner on GB News which aired on Thursday, Trump was asked how much of Iran's nuclear material remained after the US strikes. He said three known nuclear sites had been "obliterated" and suggested the US was closely monitoring another location known as Pickaxe Mountain.

"Well, they had three sites and now they may have Pickaxe Mountain. But the three sites have been obliterated. But we have a thing called Space Force, which is very effective, that I started in my first term. Very effective. And we have cameras on every major area of the first three. And we also have cameras on Pickaxe Mountain. And we know everybody that walks in and walks out. We can read the name...so we know everything that's going on. So we're very certain."

Trump said the strikes also protected Britain from a potential Iranian nuclear threat, arguing that Iran could be more likely to use such a weapon against European targets because of its missile capabilities.

"I'm saving your country from the threat, too, because if Iran had a nuclear weapon, they're more likely to use it in Europe, where they do have missile capability, than they are to America where they don't. And I'm saving your country from a problem because they would use it."

The President further stated that Iran had been only weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon and credited his decision during his first term to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA, with delaying Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"They were two weeks, maybe four weeks away from having a nuclear weapon. And we attacked them with the bombers. I also did something else in my first term. I ended the Obama, the JCPOA - that's the agreement, the Obama nuclear disaster, where it was basically a short road to a nuclear weapon. And they would have had a nuclear weapon five years ago if I didn't terminate that. I terminated the deal. But then, very importantly, a year and a couple of months ago, we attacked them at those three big sites where they had lots of nuclear dust, I call it. It's material that will could easily be turned into a nuclear weapon. It went through the whole process and it's now buried under millions of tons of mountain, and will be very hard to get to."

Trump said his objective in the Middle East was specifically to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while describing the region as having a long history of conflict.

"The Middle East has "been a problem for 2,000 years. They've been fighting. Look, I'm there because we have to stop them from having a nuclear weapon. And it is the Middle East. And we've done that. We've defeated their Navy. We defeated their Air Force. We've defeated them. Their leaders are gone. Everything is gone."

Discussing the most recent US strikes this week, Trump said American forces had destroyed Iranian radar installations and were maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz.

"We took out their radar. They just put new radar in," Trump said when referencing the strikes. "We control the Hormuz Strait.We have great control over the Hormuz Strait. We're taking out 30, 40 boats a night and a lot of oil is coming out of there. So we control the Hormuz Strait and their economy is crashing. Their inflation could be 300 percent. Their money is valueless. It's two million to one or something like that. And it's going up every day. So they're in big trouble."

The interview aired a day after Trump said in a conversation with reporters that he did not expect the renewed confrontation with Iran to continue for much longer.

Asked how long the latest escalation would last, Trump responded, “Not too long". He subsequently suggested that Iran could have limited ability to withstand continued American attacks.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take," Trump said of Iran.

Trump also said the US was ready to launch further strikes against Iran if necessary.

“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we are prepared to do another one anytime we want," he stressed.

Later Wednesday, Trump addressed the conflict during an event in the Rose Garden, saying Iran had suffered major losses following the latest US strikes and that its ability to wage war had been severely diminished.

He said the US military campaign was aimed at protecting the Middle East, Israel and the United States from Iran.

“We're doing it to help the Middle East, we're doing it to help Israel, we're doing it to help ourselves, because after they annihilate Israel, which they would've done very gladly, and then the Middle East, then they come after Europe and they come after some of our cities before we put them away."

A short while ago, fire was identified toward IDF troops operating east of the Yellow Line in the northern Gaza Strip. No IDF injuries were reported.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said, "The IDF struck in the area. This constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The IDF views with severity the attempts by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip to advance and execute attacks against IDF troops operating in the area."

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington has no intention of resuming negotiations with Iran while Tehran continues to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The President’s been very clear: We are not talking to the Iranians, and we are not going to talk to them unless they stop shooting at commercial shipping. My advice to the Iranians is stop acting like crazy people," the Vice President said at a press briefing at the White House.

Asked whether the conflict with Iran would end before the November 3 midterm elections, Vance first said, “I wouldn’t call it a war," before explaining that the timeline largely depends on Tehran's actions.

“When you ask when will this end, you’re asking me a question like when will the Iranians stop shooting at ships? I think the reality is I don’t know the answer to that question. You would have to ask the Iranians."

Vance also said the amount of oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz is approaching prewar levels, noting that 15 million barrels passed through the waterway during the previous night.

“The reason gas prices are so high right now is because the Iranians are shooting at commercial shipping… Yes, gas prices are higher in the United States, but they’re way worse everywhere else in the world," he stated.

The Vice President also expressed strong doubts about Iranian claims that a US strike earlier this week hit a wedding party.

“I will say that the Iranian state media has not been a very good scribe about what's happened in the conflict thus far, so I'm extremely skeptical of this," Vance told reporters.

He reiterated the US military's position that civilians are not deliberately targeted, while saying authorities are investigating the reported incident.

“Unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen, but in this particular case, I don’t think that we have any information one way or the other," Vance said. “We're investigating it because obviously we care, we want to know."

Vance spoke a day after President Donald Trump said he did not expect the renewed confrontation with Iran to continue for much longer.

Asked how long the latest escalation would last, Trump responded, “Not too long". He subsequently suggested that Iran could have limited ability to withstand continued American attacks.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take," Trump said of Iran.

Trump also said the US was ready to launch further strikes against Iran if necessary.

“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we are prepared to do another one anytime we want," he stressed.

Later Wednesday, Trump addressed the conflict during an event in the Rose Garden, saying Iran had suffered major losses following the latest US strikes and that its ability to wage war had been severely diminished.

“We're winning that one very big, by the way, in case you haven't noticed. They don't have a Navy. They don't have an Air Force. They don't have any aircraft. Anything having to do with aircraft or ships, they're all at the bottom of the sea or at the bottom of a runway. Their leaders are gone. All of their technology is gone. Their weapons are largely gone. Other than that, they're doing quite well."

Trump also cited Iran's economic situation as evidence of the pressure facing the regime.

“Their economy is totally shot. Their economy is the worst anywhere in the world, they said this morning. They have close to 300% inflation, their money is valueless. They're not doing well at all, so it's just a question of time," added the President.

He said the US military campaign was aimed at protecting the Middle East, Israel and the United States from Iran.

“We're doing it to help the Middle East, we're doing it to help Israel, we're doing it to help ourselves, because after they annihilate Israel, which they would've done very gladly, and then the Middle East, then they come after Europe and they come after some of our cities before we put them away."

Iranian media reported that missiles were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz.

IDF soldiers from the 36th Division have operated in recent weeks to clear and neutralize the two underground routes in the Ali al-Taher Ridge area in the Security Zone.

The soldiers achieved operational control of the ridge area, both above and below ground, and cleared the area of terrorists. Some of the terrorists were eliminated, while others fled the area.

The operation to neutralize the underground infrastructure sites that were cleared of terrorists is still ongoing. Upon completion of the operation, the IDF will adjust its defensive posture in accordance with the situational assessment.

According to the IDF, the terrorists who were present inside the infrastructure carried out terror attacks against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers. Following operations in the underground routes over the past several weeks, their capability to carry out terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers from within the routes has been neutralized.

The underground infrastructure sites contained command centers, weapons storage rooms, generator rooms, living quarters, showers, and a kitchen, which enabled the terrorists to manage combat and remain underground for extended periods of time. The infrastructure is a strategic underground network that was built over two decades and funded and planned by the Iranian terror regime.

"IDF soldiers will continue to operate in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to advance terror attacks against them," the military stated.

"Any attempt by the terrorist organization to carry out an attack against IDF soldiers will be met with a response. The IDF remains committed to the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon," it added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a toast on Thursday ahead of the Jewish New Year with Minister of Defense Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and members of the IDF General Staff Forum at the Kirya Base in Tel Aviv.

In his remarks to the generals, Netanyahu set the collapse of the Iranian regime as Israel's top objective.

At the start of his remarks, Netanyahu discussed the various achievements of the war and the recent operations. "What was achieved in the three years of the War of Redemption and in the time since Roaring Lion, and even beforehand, Rising Lion, are historic achievements that ensure our continued existence. We stood up to the threat of eradication by a regime that seeks to annihilate us and wants to use nuclear bombs to destroy us. We removed this threat as well as other threats."

The Prime Minister claimed that the regime's position has significantly weakened: "This regime is faltering. It is weaker than ever. It is fighting for its survival, and I am confident that we can accomplish the main mission before us. I believe in the capabilities of our heroic soldiers, our heroic pilots and navigators, our entire defense apparatus, our home front and our strong people."

Netanyahu continued and declared that Israel is capable of removing the threat permanently: "I am convinced of our ability to remove this threat once and for all. That is, to topple this regime. That is the main task still before us, but it is close. It is not impossible. It is in arm's reach."

Netanyahu also mentioned Iran's conduct towards Israel, "It's not for no reason that they don't attack us. They attack everyone, just not us. They know our might, our strength, and our determination."

Netanyahu closed out his remarks with a direct warning to Israel's enemies: "I tell our enemies, don't mess with us. If you've learned anything, don't mess with us. We have the power, the determination, and the eternal unity to overcome you, and that is what I wish for the people of Israel in the upcoming year, in the near future. Happy New Year."

Israel is expected to release five prisoners of war to Lebanon on Thursday, as part of a goodwill gesture coordinated with the United States and amid ongoing negotiations between the two countries, Channel 12 News reported.

According to the report, the issue of the detainees was formally included in the seventh round of talks between Israel and Lebanon, held in Rome in August under US mediation. During the discussions, the sides exchanged preliminary lists of detainees and missing persons.

According to Lebanese sources, the government in Beirut demanded that the first stage of the process include the release of a group of civilian detainees. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on August 7 that "positive progress" had been made on the issue, although no final agreement had been announced at the time.

This is not the first time Israel has taken such a step: In March 2025, Israel released five Lebanese citizens who had been held in Israel, in a move described by the Prime Minister's Office as a "gesture to the Lebanese President." The move was coordinated with the United States and in parallel to progress in talks on border issues.

The current move is also intended to advance negotiations between the sides and continue efforts to stabilize relations along the northern border.

According to local Jordanian reports, the Iranian missiles fired earlier this week towards Jordan hit a hotel where US officers were staying.

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday issued a stark warning to the regime in Tehran, warning against any attempt to attack Israel.

Speaking at a Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) toast at the Defense Ministry, Katz stressed, "An Iranian attack on Israel will free Israel from all existing constraints regarding strikes on Iran."

"We will strike all of Iran's national, military, and civilian infrastructure - including its energy infrastructure - and send Iran back deep into the Stone Age and darkness."

He added, "The Ayatollah regime in Iran knows very well why it is not attacking Israel, after we struck them powerfully twice, destroyed the nuclear program, eliminated [late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, and severely damaged their strategic capabilities."

Katz also warned that Israel's security establishment has identified developments that could influence the Iranian regime's actions, adding, "There are signs we are seeing that indicate that the severe economic pressure Iran is under, along with fears of an uprising and the collapse of the regime, could push them to desperate measures."

Iran warned the United States last month that it would respond to a full-scale Israeli assault on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, where Iranian military personnel are reportedly positioned together with Hezbollah terrorists, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing three officials familiar with the message.

According to the officials, Tehran's warning reflected its involvement in the fighting in southern Lebanon and its readiness to act if Israel launches a broad operation against the strategic ridge.

Lebanese security sources said Hezbollah is believed to have constructed an underground command center and weapons storage facilities inside Ali al-Taher, which overlooks southeastern Lebanon and has become a focal point in the fighting.

Hezbollah has publicly claimed control of the ridge and said it would resist an Israeli advance. The organization has acknowledged the existence of a "facility" at the site without providing further details.

The IDF has taken control of areas south of Ali al-Taher and has described the ridge as one of its main operational priorities.

The three officials cited in the report said Iran warned that a major Israeli offensive against the ridge would lead to a significant Iranian attack.

Hezbollah declined to confirm whether Iranian forces are stationed at Ali al-Taher. Asked about the reported Iranian warning and whether Washington had pressed Israel not to attack the ridge, a White House official said the report was "not accurate."

Iran's permanent mission in Geneva, the US Defense Department and Oman's Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment. The IDF also declined to comment.

Two of the officials said Iran's message was conveyed through Oman. They said more than a dozen members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, including at least two senior officers, were present alongside Hezbollah fighters.

A third official with direct knowledge of the warning said it was delivered around the middle of August and claimed Israel subsequently postponed an assault on Ali al-Taher following US pressure.

Hezbollah's media office neither confirmed nor denied that Iran had issued the warning. It said such a message would be a "natural conclusion," arguing that Iran regards Israeli territorial expansion in southern Lebanon as a violation of the Islamabad Agreement, the June US-Iran memorandum of understanding that included a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Iran launched missiles toward Israel in early June in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Hezbollah near Beirut.

Despite the June ceasefire, the IDF has said Hezbollah remains active near Ali al-Taher and has twice launched explosive drones toward Israeli troops in the area during the past week.

In July, the IDF said it struck a Hezbollah terrorist near an entrance to the underground complex and said it would prevent the organization from operating in the area or threatening Israeli forces.

An Israeli military official said in June that Hezbollah terrorists trapped underground were without food and water. Maariv reported, citing a military source, that the IDF assesses there are no IRGC personnel at Ali al-Taher and that some Hezbollah terrorists have died after being deprived of food and water.

The third official cited in the report said Israel is attempting to force Hezbollah and IRGC personnel out of the position by maintaining a siege and intercepting attempts to deliver food and water by drone.

Hezbollah's media office said Israeli pressure over the past month appeared intended to make the underground facility impossible to inhabit, adding that the absence of a large-scale assault could indicate that warnings had been conveyed through several countries.

A Lebanese source briefed by Hezbollah said the organization's fighters can still reach their positions from the northern side of the ridge.

The military situation at Ali al-Taher could not be independently confirmed. Israel has included the area within a security zone held by Israeli forces and closed to Lebanese access.

A Lebanese source and a senior Lebanese security official said an Israeli operation to seize the ridge could still take place in the coming weeks.

Hezbollah warned that a large-scale Israeli assault on Ali al-Taher would mark a return to full-scale war and could lead to missile fire toward communities in northern Israel.

US President Donald Trump is considering formally declaring that the fighting against Iran has come to an end, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday morning.

According to the report, Trump has held private discussions with senior officials over whether to publicly declare an end ot the fighting; US sources told WSJ that he is currently leaning towards doing so.

The administration's approach is based on the assessment that economic pressure and sanctions have created a stranglehold that will force the Iranian regime either to abandon its nuclear ambitions or face internal collapse.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed an order extending the deployment of US forces throughout the Middle East into 2027. The decision includes maintaining a presence of 50,000 troops, 19 warships, air-defense systems, and fighter squadrons - a move that reports say is placing an increased burden on forces serving in the region.

Officials briefed on US policy stressed that the current objective is not to return to high-intensity combat or expand the conflict.

Instead, the military leadership seeks to continue targeted operations similar to those carried out earlier this week, with the goal of reducing the threat posed to ships by Iranian forces.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the United States will continue taking military action when necessary to protect its forces and international shipping from Iranian threats, while emphasizing that Washington’s primary means of pressuring Tehran remains economic.

Speaking to Fox News, Rubio said the central US objective remains to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"Well, first of all, I’ll remind everybody that, at the end, the core and central issue here is the following: Iran will never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, certainly not as long as President Trump is in office. So that’s first and foremost."

Addressing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio said Iran has continued attacking commercial shipping and that the United States will target threats to its forces and global maritime traffic.

"So we will continue to target those things that pose an imminent threat to our forces and to global shipping in the straits. The straits will remain open, and they will not be under Iranian control. And that’s what you’re seeing the President carrying out right now."

Rubio also rejected the prospect of simply returning to previous arrangements with Tehran, arguing that Iran will continue to face economic pressure as long as it seeks a nuclear weapon.

"So as far as the differences in their system, here’s the bottom line - their economy’s a disaster. It was a disaster before all of this, right, because they - if you think about it, Iran - every penny they get, be it through sanctions relief or whatever - every penny they get, they don’t spend it on the Iranian people. They don’t spend that money on their country. They use that money to fund Hezbollah and Hamas and terrorist organizations and militias in Iraq to threaten us and threaten the world. If they spent a fraction, just half the money that they’re spending on these militias - if they spent it on their own people, the Iranian people would be better off."

He said the economic pressure is intended not only to punish Iran's leadership but also to restrict its ability to finance terrorist organizations and pursue a nuclear weapon.

"So they’re going to continue to feel the squeeze, because understand that this is not just about punishing Iran, the Iranian regime. It’s about preventing them from having access to money that will then be used to sponsor terrorism, which is what they’ve always done. They want money for two things - to sponsor terrorism and ultimately to have a nuclear weapon. And we can’t allow that to happen."

Rubio also warned countries against helping Iran circumvent US sanctions, saying Washington could impose sanctions on governments that assist Tehran in generating revenue.

"I think what ultimately happens though is - and the President’s been very clear - is no country should be helping Iran evade sanctions. No country should be out there helping them create mechanisms by which they can generate revenue that they will then use to sponsor terrorism and try to build a nuclear weapon. And if countries decide to do that, then we’re going to have to sanction them too."

Regarding Russia's support for Iran, Rubio said Moscow's position does not align with Washington's, but stressed that outside assistance would not prevent the United States from acting to defend itself.

"Nothing that anyone is providing Iran is in any way impeding our ability to act as necessary to protect the United States."

Rubio’s remarks follow the Treasury Department's announcement last week of “Operation Economic Outcast," an effort to isolate Iran economically.

At the same time, the Trump administration has kept military action on the table. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said last week that Washington has not ruled out military strikes in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

On Wednesday, the US struck Iranian military equipment near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles toward US military bases in Jordan.

Trump said the American strikes were carried out in response to Iranian activity in the Strait of Hormuz and an earlier missile attack against a US military base in Jordan, warning Iran of more powerful strikes if it retaliated.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday published a video showing its forces' activities in enforcing the naval blockade on Iran.

“As of Sept. 2, US forces have redirected 86 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to ensure compliance," CENTCOM said in a statement.

Washington originally imposed the naval blockade on April 13, authorizing US Central Command (CENTCOM) to inspect ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in an effort to restrict Tehran’s petroleum sales and maritime traffic.

Although a temporary 60-day agreement was signed in June to pause the embargo in exchange for unhindered merchant shipping, American forces reinstated the maritime blockade in July following renewed armed clashes and attacks on regional vessels.

The Kuwaiti military announced that the country’s air defense systems are working to intercept missiles and drones as part of an attack it described as “Iranian aggression."