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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel to discuss Iran and regional security threats. The meeting came amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, intensified Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and preparations for upcoming Israeli and US elections.
President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran’s deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility as the Pentagon reportedly considers using the massive non-nuclear “Mother of All Bombs.” Tehran has dismissed the threats and warned that further U.S. attacks could trigger retaliation and escalate the regional conflict.
US embassies across the Middle East have urged American citizens to remain vigilant amid escalating regional hostilities, warning of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions. The alerts come as Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia, with deadly strikes disrupting operations at Riyadh’s international airport and raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.
US President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran and said he does not foresee deploying American ground troops. In a Newsmax interview, he also revealed that Washington is discussing nuclear disarmament with Russia and China, predicting that Beijing could match US nuclear capabilities within five years.
A 19-year-old man from Palatine, Illinois, has been arrested over an alleged mass shooting plot targeting a Hindu temple in Aurora, near Chicago. Prosecutors say Alexandros Paporakis shared a white supremacist manifesto and messages indicating that his rifle had malfunctioned. Police recovered a rifle, loaded magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and body armor from his home. He faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawful weapon possession.
The Pentagon has prepared plans for potential strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities if President Donald Trump orders a resumption of military operations, CNN reported. Trump has also called for shooting those responsible for leaking information about US military operations, while predicting that the war with Iran will end “very soon” and oil prices will fall sharply afterward.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Russia and China could pay a heavy price if they help Iran in its ongoing war with the United States and Israel. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he did not believe Moscow or Beijing was providing significant assistance to Tehran, adding that any such involvement would carry serious consequences.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out an attack on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, saying Washington and Tehran are engaged in “constructive negotiations” while the U.S. blockade remains in place. Meanwhile, rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have pushed Brent crude above $104 a barrel, as Russian President Vladimir Putin pledges to help end the war.
A new congressional report says at least 81 US military aircraft and drones were destroyed or damaged during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, with estimated replacement costs of $1.9 billion to $3.3 billion. Separately, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the war had cost approximately $38 billion by August 1, with monthly expenses potentially reaching $2 billion to $3 billion.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran has missed multiple opportunities for a nuclear deal and that Washington will only accept an agreement guaranteeing Tehran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. Rubio also said Iran has lost control of the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran disputes the U.S. claim.
The United States is deploying a third aircraft carrier strike group and more than 2,000 Marines to the Middle East as President Donald Trump weighs further military action against Iran. The buildup comes amid stalled diplomacy and a reported projectile strike on a tanker near Oman, with the source of the projectile still unknown.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a “very severe” response against Iran if Tehran is found to have been involved in an alleged attack aboard a Flydubai flight travelling to Israel. The incident reportedly involved the co-pilot stabbing the captain, forcing the aircraft to descend rapidly before it landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Iranian involvement remains unverified as investigations continue.
