Hostilities between the US and Iran escalated further on Sunday night with a third mutual missile strike, as the US military reported hitting 140 Iranian targets and three Gulf nations said they had repelled missiles and drones from Iran.
The Pentagon is considering relocating some of its military bases from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in order to reduce potential damage from Iran should military operations in the Middle East resume, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
According to CENTCOM, US forces have lifted the blockade of Iranian ports, allowing transport vessels to navigate freely along the Iranian coast.
The United States and Iran have exchanged strikes across the Middle East for a second consecutive day, further straining an already shaky ceasefire agreed between the two countries in April.
The Pentagon is facing a budget squeeze over military operations, primarily Operation Epic Fury, that were not planned for the fiscal year 2026 budget, Fox News reported, citing U.S. Army officials.
Iran’s Navy said that it targeted a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday that it described as the “command-and-control center” behind American attacks against Iranian commercial vessels.
The US may completely close several bases in the region rather than rebuild them
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said it will take years to replenish the advanced weapons used by the U.S. during the Iran war.
The U.S. military struck a number of targets in southern Iran, Fox News reported, citing Tim Hawkins, a primary spokesperson for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to the US Army's Middle East headquarters, US forces prevented 70 tankers and 62 other vessels from either departing from or entering Iranian ports throughout the 26 days of the naval blockade.
According to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is on heightened alert and may resume military action against Iran.
US President Donald Trump told congressional leaders that "hostilities" with Iran have "terminated," addressing a critical 60-day deadline under a law meant to limit the unauthorized use of military force.
The Iranian military stands ready to initiate strikes should Washington persist with the blockade of Iranian ports. The Iranian Armed Forces are equipped for an "unprecedented response".
The Pentagon is considering an operation in the Strait of Hormuz. The US intends to destroy Iranian military vessels and eliminate the threat from the shore.
An Iranian cargo vessel that was seized earlier by the U.S. forces was traveling en route to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported.
The Pentagon has opted to enhance its military presence in the Middle East amid ongoing negotiations with Iran. Media sources indicate that Washington plans to leverage this military strength to influence Tehran's position.
The US military has commenced the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, fulfilling a commitment made by President Donald Trump the previous day.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that U.S. ships, aircraft and personnel with additional ammunition and weaponry will remain in place around Iran until the “real agreement” on a ceasefire “is fully complied with”, warning of more conflict otherwise.
U.S. President Donald Trump could fire Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth if things in Iran keep going south, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.
Iran's air defense system uses advanced cameras designed to monitor American and Israeli aircraft. These cameras are covert and resistant to destruction.
