European allies tell Trump ‘nein,’ ‘non’ and ‘no’ on help to force open Hormuz Strait
Trump in recent days explicitly linked U.S. involvement in NATO and support to Ukraine to efforts by allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Naval
The US has several options to counter Iranian mines. These are some key assets.
The U.S. Navy decommissioned its only four minesweepers in the Middle East last year, but still maintains other countermine capabilities it can deploy.
Iran missile strike damages five KC-135 tankers in Saudi Arabia, officials say
The aircraft were reportedly parked on the flight line at the time of the strike and sustained damage but were not destroyed.
Trump asks ‘about 7′ countries for help to open the Strait of Hormuz
The president said he demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but his appeals have brought no commitments.
US bombs key Iranian island amid oil concerns
President Trump said U.S. forces “totally obliterated" every military target on Iran's oil hub, Kharg Island.
Pentagon reportedly sending more warships and Marines to Middle East
The USS Tripoli, USS New Orleans, USS San Diego and the embarked 31st MEU are reportedly heading to the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury.
Lebanese government tries to avoid internal strife amid Israeli bombardment
The Lebanese army is in no position to search for Hezbollah weapons while the country is under Israeli bombardment, one analyst said.
Six US service members killed in KC-135 crash in Iraq
“All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased,” CENTCOM announced.
Price tag for Epic Fury tops $11 billion in first six days, Pentagon tells Congress
The figure omitted a range of war-related expenses and is likely to rise.
France’s Mediterranean armada signals clout as Middle East may rethink alliances
The massive deployment of warships comes as some Middle Eastern nations are expected to reevaluate their alliances in a post-Iran war world, analysts said.
Iran war may force US to shift missile defenses from South Korea, Seoul says
The U.S. Army operates only a small number of THAAD batteries across the world, meaning a deployment can affect multiple theaters.
Amid US military actions, White House struggles to explain how Iran war will end
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday told reporters it’s up to Trump “whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the end” of the war.
Iran to face ‘most intense day of strikes,’ Hegseth says
The rhetoric was equally sharp from Tehran. Iran’s parliament speaker said on X that Iran was “definitely not looking for a ceasefire."
US, Iran spar over status of Iranian warship sunk by submarine
The United States and Iran have offered sharply different accounts of the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean last week.
US B-1B Lancers arrive at RAF Fairford as strikes on Iran intensify
The U.K. Ministry of Defence confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces had begun using the British base for “specific defensive operations."
Prewar US intel found intervention in Iran wasn’t likely to change leadership
A February intelligence assessment determined that American military intervention was not likely to lead to regime change in the Islamic Republic.
NATO defenses shoot down ballistic missile in Turkey
The ballistic missile was downed by NATO units stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.
