LIVE UPDATES: Iran assaults unfold throughout the Center East as Trump weighs alleged California drone menace

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Iran's Supreme Leader alive 'in some form' despite reported war injuries, says Trump President Donald Trump said he believes Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is still alive “in some form,” despite not being seen publicly since taking office after the war in Iran began.

“I think he probably is. I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” Trump said in an interview with Brian Kilmeade scheduled to air Friday at 10:06 a.m. ET on “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”

Trump’s comments came after Mojtaba Khamenei signaled that Iran would not back down in the war with the United States and Israel.

The newly appointed Supreme Leader had issued a statement Thursday amid rumors about his condition following recent strikes.

“We will not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs,” Khamenei said in a section addressed to the Iranian nation, according to text published by Iranian state media.

The statement followed reports that Khamenei had been injured and was possibly in a coma after U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed his father during a Tehran compound attack on Feb. 28.

The president also touched on the Iranian regime’s ambitions regarding neighboring countries in the Middle East.

"Iran had thousands of missiles pointed at all these Middle Eastern countries for the last four months," he said.

"They were going to take over the Middle East, they were going to control it all, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia" before warning that Iran had "1,200 missiles pointed at these countries."

"All these nations were afraid of Iran and they are not anymore. But they had reason to be afraid. We have knocked the hell out of them like no other nation could and they still have remnants left," Trump said.

Speaking on the difficulties facing vessels wanting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz and Trump suggested they should "go through the strait of Hormuz and show some guts."

"There's nothing to be afraid of. They have no Navy and we sunk all their ships," the president added.

20 mins ago Trump reverses course on reducing oil prices amid Iran war, says higher costs benefit US

President Donald Trump argued on Thursday that higher oil prices caused by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran actually help the U.S., reversing course after previously touting lower energy prices.

"The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money," he wrote on Truth Social.

"BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping [sic] an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Center East and, certainly, the World. I gained’t ever let that occur! Thanks to your consideration to this matter," he continued.

In his State of the Union address last month, Trump boasted about gas prices at $2.30 a gallon, although prices have since surged more than 50% to a national average of $3.60 a gallon, according to AAA.

This comes as U.S. officials struggle to offer a clear plan for opening the Strait of Hormuz to allow tankers carrying oil and natural gas through.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

50 mins ago France President Macron says French soldier killed in attack in Iraq

France President Emmanuel Macron said a French soldier was killed during an attack that targeted Irbil in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region.

Macron identified the soldier as Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion of the 7th Battalion of Chasseurs Alpins from Varces.

"To his family, to his brothers in arms, I want to express all the affection and solidarity of the Nation," Macron said.

"Several of our soldiers have been wounded. France stands by their side and with their loved ones. This attack against our forces engaged in the fight against Daesh since 2015 is unacceptable," he continued.

The president added: "Their presence in Iraq is part of the strict framework of the fight against terrorism. The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks."

2 hours ago UK weighs defending vessels in Strait of Hormuz amid escalating Iranian attacks

The United Kingdom is considering stepping up military support to protect vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating Iranian attacks on oil and gas tankers, Defense Secretary John Healey suggested Thursday.

Healey also said he had spoken to his counterparts in the so-called E5 group of European powers to discuss the deepening crisis.

“Recognizing the huge impact this potentially has on oil prices and the cost of living, there is an international imperative to try and see this resolved,” he said, referring to the attacks tankers face through the strategic waterway.

Speaking to reporters after meeting commanders at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in London, the defense secretary revealed that the U.K. has assets already in the region.

“I have — pre-positioned in the region — some autonomous mine hunting systems,” he said.

“I have been talking to planners today about additional options we can bring to bear alongside allies should it be needed.”

However, Healey stressed that discussions remain preliminary. “You should not read into that that we have got some hard options poised to go. But … I am discussing additional options with our planners.”

The U.K. is already deploying HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer with significant air defense capabilities, to bolster its presence and defensive posture in the region, according to reports .

3 hours ago Israel wipes out 250 Iranian drones, hundreds of launchers in massive strikes

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have taken down hundreds of drones and neutralized as many launchers since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, and the joint military operation with the U.S in Iran.

“Over 250 UAVs dismantled. Hundreds of launchers neutralized,” IDF International Spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said Thursday in a post shared on X.

“The IDF expanded strikes on the Iranian terror regime’s UAV array,” he said.

“In one strike, IAF aircraft identified operatives preparing a UAV launch toward Israel and quickly struck the launcher and the operatives,” Shoshani added.

4 hours ago Treasury allows temporary purchases of stranded Russian oil amid Iran conflict

The U.S. Treasury is allowing countries to buy Russian oil that is stranded at sea to help stabilize global energy markets and keep prices down during the war with Iran.

In a post on X Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the authorization applies only to oil already in transit and is “short-term.”

“.@POTUS is taking decisive steps to promote stability in global energy markets and working to keep prices low as we address the threat and instability posed by the terrorist Iranian regime,” Bessent said.

“To increase the global reach of existing supply, @USTreasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea,” he added.

“This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction,” Bessent said.

Bessent went on to highlight how President Donald Trump’s pro-energy policies have driven U.S. oil and gas production to record levels, "contributing to lower fuel prices for hardworking Americans."

“The temporary increase in oil prices is a short-term and temporary disruption that will result in a massive benefit to our nation and economy in the long term,” he said.

4 hours ago Israel killed senior Iranian nuclear scientists, Netanyahu says

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted and killed top Iranian nuclear scientists, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, the Israeli leader said those scientists killed had been leading the development of nuclear bombs.

"In the current operation, we also opened the path for a broad strike against Iran’s massive missile stockpiles and missile-production facilities, as well as its nuclear project — including severe blows to senior Iranian scientists who led the development of nuclear bombs meant to destroy us," he said.

"They are no longer here," he added.

Netanyahu also spoke about Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since his appointment was announced.

"In a short time, we eliminated the tyrant Khamenei and many senior figures in the terror regime," he said.

“'The old dictator is gone, and the new one, Mojtaba Khamenei, the puppet of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cannot even appear in public," he said.

5 hours ago UAE air defenses intercept 1,500+ Iranian drones, 278 ballistic missiles since conflict began

United Arab Emirates (UAE) air defense systems intercepted 10 ballistic missiles and 26 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Thursday, the Ministry of Defense confirmed.

The Ministry also said more than 1,000 drones have been taken down since the start of the conflict with Iran.

“The UAE air defense systems today (March 12, 2026) engaged 10 ballistic missiles and 26 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry said in a post shared on X.

“Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defenses have engaged 278 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,540 UAVs,” the post added.

The ministry also confirmed six fatalities — including Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationals — and 131 minor to moderate injuries among nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Turkey, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana and Indonesia.

“The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the post said.

6 hours ago Israeli forces complete waves of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure inside Lebanon

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) completed several waves of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon , an official confirmed Thursday.

“The IDF struck several Hezbollah command centers, from which Hezbollah terrorists operated to advance terror attacks against the State of Israel and its civilians,” the official said.

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization systematically embeds its infrastructure within the civilian population across Lebanon,” the IDF said before adding that it was “another example of the organization’s cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians for its terrorist activities.”

“Prior to the strikes, measures were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including advance warnings, the use of precision munitions, and aerial surveillance,” the IDF said.

6 hours ago US military aircraft lost in Iraq amid ongoing operations, CENTCOM confirms

A U.S. aircraft has been reported lost in Iraq during ongoing military operations against Iran, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Thursday.

This came on day 12 of Operation Epic Fury targeting Iranian-linked assets in the region.

According to CENTCOM, the incident involved two U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft operating in friendly airspace. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second landed safely.

CENTCOM said the loss was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and officials have not yet released details about the number or condition of personnel involved.

"More information will be made available as the situation develops. We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.," CENTCOM said in a statement.

6 hours ago Gas and diesel prices continue to climb nationwide

With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East rattling oil markets and raising fears of supply disruptions, gas prices are climbing—adding fresh strain for Americans already worn down by inflation.

Oil prices have surged as traders brace for the risk that fighting could continue to snarl exports out of the Persian Gulf, including through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping corridor for global energy supplies.

This week, benchmark oil prices punched back above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022, underscoring how quickly geopolitical shocks can ripple through the energy complex.

That jump is showing up at the pump.

As oil prices climb, gasoline and diesel prices are rising fast—especially diesel, which can move quickly because it’s tied closely to freight and industrial demand.

On Thursday, the national average for regular gasoline rose to about $3.59 a gallon, according to AAA. Diesel prices have also jumped, with the national average up $1.20 to $4.86 a gallon.

With energy costs accelerating, the White House is weighing steps to safeguard commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and leaning on emergency stockpiles to try to cushion the blow.

6 hours ago Trump demands Powell cut rates as Iran conflict drives up energy prices

President Donald Trump on Thursday pressed the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates “immediately,” as fallout from the conflict involving Iran fuels an energy-price spike.

“Where is the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome ‘Too Late’ Powell today? He should be dropping Interest Rates, IMMEDIATELY, not waiting for the next meeting,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, using a mocking nickname for Powell.

The remarks come ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, when policymakers will decide whether to lower the Fed’s key interest rate — a move that can ripple through borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, including mortgages, car loans and credit cards.

Trump has repeatedly argued the Fed should move faster to cut rates, framing cheaper borrowing as key to boosting growth and easing financial pressure on households. Fed officials, however, have signaled they want clearer evidence that inflation is cooling.

The Fed's rate cut decision also comes as higher energy prices threaten to keep inflation elevated, complicating Trump’s pledge to lower costs for Americans. Rising fuel costs can quickly spill into transportation and shipping, pushing up prices across the economy.

7 hours ago Israel relies on tips from Iranians to guide missile strikes inside Iran: report

Israel is relying on target information given by Iranians to carry out strikes on Iran during the war, according to reports.

Citing a senior Israeli security official, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Israel has been using intelligence provided by civilians inside Iran.

The official said Iranians on the ground transmit information about possible targets through Israeli social media accounts in Persian.

The information is first verified and vetted by Israeli authorities, the official said.

If the information turns out to be accurate, Israel acts on it. The official described how one strike on a Basij checkpoint in Tehran on March 10 was an example.

7 hours ago Trump warns of Iranian ‘sleeper cells’ as Canada accused of harboring regime operatives

After President Donald Trump warned recently about Iranian "sleeper cells" potentially operating in North America, Canadian opposition lawmakers are accusing their government of allowing operatives linked to Tehran’s regime to remain in the country.

Trump said Wednesday U.S. authorities were monitoring Iranian networks believed to have entered the United States in recent years.

"I have been (briefed), and a lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border," Trump said in response to a question from Fox News’ Peter Doocy. "But we know where most of them are. We've got our eye on all of them."

The remarks came amid growing concern among Western security officials about Iranian intelligence activities targeting critics abroad.

In Canada, senior Conservatives say the government has failed to act against Iranian regime officials despite identifying individuals linked to Tehran.

Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman, immigration shadow minister Michelle Rempel and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Québec lieutenant, called upon the Liberal government, in a statement released in Ottawa, to table a plan within one week to take immediate action to stop Iranian regime activities in Canada.

"The Liberals have known for years that there are hundreds of Iranian regime officials in Canada, 239 of whom have had their visas" canceled, the lawmakers said.

They added that government officials told a parliamentary immigration committee recently that only one person has been deported so far, citing legal obstacles, including asylum claims, the absence of direct flights to Iran and privacy protections.

"The presence of agents of the Islamic Republic in Canada is not a new issue," Maryam Shariatmadari told Fox News Digital.

Shariatmadari is one of the faces of the "Girls of Revolution Street" protests against Iran’s mandatory hijab laws who fled Iran after being imprisoned and now lives in exile in Canada.

"For years, the people of Iran have expressed concern about the presence of these individuals and their children in Canada," Shariatmadari added before stating she was aware of two known embezzlers. Iran Wire reported on that case in 2022.

"But these days we are seeing more of these individuals," Shariatmadari added.

"Their presence has become more visible, and they are organizing gatherings under the slogan ‘No to War,’ while expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, they remained completely silent about the killing of Iranians."

Exiled Iranian journalist Mehdi Ghadimi, who now lives in Canada, also told Fox News Digital that individuals linked to Iran’s regime often arrive in Western countries through several different channels.

"Some arrive as students, academics or ordinary immigrants but were already connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps through family ties or ideological affiliation," he said.

"They often try to identify activists and critics, so those individuals can face legal or judicial problems either in Iran or even abroad."

Ghadimi said another category operates primarily through financial networks tied to the regime.

"Another group includes people who used to be members of the IRGC or other state institutions and later enter countries like Canada as private investors," he said. "When someone brings several million dollars for investment, it raises questions about where that money came from."

He added that wealthy business figures who move capital abroad may also do so with the approval of Iran’s security establishment.

"If someone is moving large amounts of money out of Iran and investing abroad, it is very difficult to do that without the approval of the IRGC and the security institutions of the Islamic Republic," he said.

This is an excerpt from a report by Efrat Lachter

7 hours ago Expats flee Dubai in droves as Iranian missiles target emirate and Gulf region

Thousands of expats have fled Dubai in the wake of Operation Epic Fury, with people also fearing prosecution for posting images and videos of missile strikes online.

So far, four people have been killed in Dubai since Feb. 28, according to reports with the area

the target of two-thirds of Iran’s missiles.

The famous Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah was also struck, and employees at Western banks, including Standard Chartered and Citibank, were evacuated following threats. Several major airlines have cancelled flights to the region.

Expats who have stayed also face prosecution if they share videos of missiles overhead.

British influencer Ben Moss admitted he is more worried about being fined or jailed for posting the “wrong” content than he is about the lethal explosives themselves, according to reports .

The content creator said: “I do feel completely safe here because of the UAE air defenses, but the laws can sometimes concern me, so I always keep everything positive.

“I’m far more scared of being fined or jailed for posting the wrong content than I am of the Iranian missiles and drones.”

Elsewhere, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported being targeted in attacks on Thursday involving missiles and drones.

Bahrain said the “Iranian aggression targeted fuel tanks,” while Saudi Arabia said it shot down two drones.

7 hours ago Trump declares Iran 'paying big price' amid Operation Epic Fury

Iran is paying the price as a nation of terror and hate, President Donald Trump said Thursday, adding that the U.S. military is “doing what has to be done.”

Trump spoke on Day 12 of the military operation against Iran, which has seen thousands of targets hit across the country in the joint U.S.-Israel campaign.

“The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly,” Trump said before hosting a Women’s History Month event at the White House. “It’s going very well. Our military is unsurpassed. There has never been anything like it. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it.”

“We’re doing what has to be done,” he continued, adding that it “should have been done during a 47-year period. It could have been done by a lot of different people. They chose not to do it.”

“They really are a nation of terror and hate, and they’re paying a big price right now,” he added.

8 hours ago Iran exploits UK charities for soft-power operations, potential espionage: report

Iran has been developing a soft-power infrastructure in the United Kingdom by using its charity sector, according to a new report.

The 109-page document, "Under Influence: The Iranian Regime’s Abuse of the UK Charity System and the Limitations of Oversight," reveals the operations of a network of U.K.-registered charities with alleged links to Tehran.

Coordinated by Lord Walney, a crossbench peer and former independent adviser on political violence and disruption, the report found that networks operate in parallel with Iran’s hard-power tactics, such as the 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie and recent assassination plots reportedly thwarted by MI5.

According to the report, about 30 charities are alleged to be involved in promoting Khomeinist ideology , fostering antisemitism and enabling forms of repression.

The report mentions 10 organizations, including the Islamic Centre of England (ICEL), the Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust, the Abrar Islamic Foundation and Ahlulbayt Foundation (Ahlulbayt TV), among others.

Walney also identified ICEL as the central hub of Iran’s charitable network in the UK, alleging that it maintains links to Iran’s supreme leader.

The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) had warned that such entities could be used by Iranian intelligence services to identify and recruit people in the U.K., raising concerns about charity oversight, according to The Jerusalem Post .

8 hours ago US Navy to escort oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz 'as soon as militarily possible' says Bessent

The U.S. Navy will escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as it is militarily possible, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday.

Speaking to Sky News , Bessent said: “My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the U.S. Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through.”

“There are, in fact, tankers coming through now — Iranian tankers. I believe some Chinese-flagged tankers have come through. So we know that they have not mined the strait,” he added.

Bessent spoke on the 13th day of Operation Epic Fury after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) initiated a joint military operation with Israel against Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz has continued to see attacks by Iran on shipping, largely targeting oil and energy tankers

9 hours ago Suspected Iranian cyberattack foiled in Poland targeting nuclear research center

Poland foiled a cyberattack on its National Centre for Nuclear Research and is investigating signs that Iran may be behind the incident, the government said Thursday.

According to Reuters , Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski told broadcaster TVN24+ the attack happened “in the past few days.”

“The attack may not have been on a huge scale, but there was an attempt to break through the security that was stopped. Appropriate services are already working,” Gawkowski said.

“The first identifications of the entry vectors, i.e., those places from which [the center] was attacked, are associated to Iran,” he mentioned.

“When there is final information and the services will check it, we will verify it, but there are many indications that it took place on the territory of Iran.”

The National Centre for Nuclear Research carries out research into nuclear energy, subatomic physics and other fields.

9 hours ago Israeli forces target Basij checkpoints across Tehran in new drone operations against regime

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released drone strike footage Thursday showing its forces targeting Basij checkpoints around Tehran, in which they claim to have killed members of the paramilitary group.

"In recent days, the Israeli military identified that Basij forces had established checkpoints at several locations across the city of Tehran. Following the identification of these deployments, the Air Force, guided by the Military Intelligence Directorate, carried out strikes over the past 24 hours targeting the checkpoints and the Basij forces stationed there, killing them," the IDF said in a statement.

"These armed forces are considered part of the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and in recent years have been responsible for carrying out terrorist plans and operations. The strikes were part of a phase aimed at deepening the blow to the core layers and key infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime,” the IDF said.

9 hours ago IDF conducts targeted Hezbollah night raids in southern Lebanon

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released footage Thursday filmed with a camera mounted on a soldier, capturing the moment troops raided Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during the night .

“IDF troops continue to maintain a forward defensive posture to protect the residents of northern Israel,” the military said in a post shared on X. “Over the past week, our troops conducted targeted night operations in southern Lebanon, dismantling Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure.”

Since Feb. 28 and the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the IDF has been operating against Hezbollah in response to attacks on Israel from the south of Lebanon.

11 hours ago US forces have now struck around 6,000 Iranian targets, more than 90 Iranian ships, CENTCOM says

U.S. Central Command announced Thursday that American forces have now struck around 6,000 Iranian targets during Operation Epic Fury.

“CENTCOM forces are striking targets to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threat,” it said.

To date, more than 90 Iranian ships have been damaged or destroyed, according to CENTCOM.

On land, American forces have hit targets including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters buildings, surface-to-air missile facilities and Iranian air defense systems.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 11 hours ago Jet fuel prices flash warning sign for airlines, travelers, as Middle East conflict escalates

As the conflict in the Middle East drags on, jet fuel prices are flashing a warning sign for airlines and travelers alike. The recent whipsaw in the market underscores how quickly fuel costs can climb when supply conditions are tightened.

In the U.S., the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index, which is a daily benchmark averaging prices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York, climbed to $3.95 a gallon on Thursday. Before the war, prices were hovering mostly in the low-to-mid $2 range for weeks.

Jet fuel is especially vulnerable to disruptions because inventories are typically thinner and storage requires specialized tanks, limiting flexibility when supplies are strained. And with far less spot-market buying than gasoline or diesel, price swings can be amplified when the market tightens.

If higher prices stick, the pressure could spread to airline budgets, route decisions and eventually passenger ticket prices as carriers plan for peak summer travel demand.

11 hours ago Trump says Iran soccer team is 'welcome' for World Cup, but warns of risks to their lives, safety

President Donald Trump said Thursday that, "The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."

Trump made the comment on Truth Social after Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said Wednesday that Iran cannot compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

"Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," Donyamali told Iranian state television, according to Reuters.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Tuesday that Trump had assured him that Iran is "welcome to compete."

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 11 hours ago Leavitt says Iranian threat to US homeland doesn't exist and 'never did'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that, “No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.”

The comment comes after President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that he was briefed on terror alerts and possible threats, including reported plans to conduct a drone attack in California.

When asked about a leaked law enforcement bulletin put out about a possible Iranian revenge plot in California where a potential offshore boat might launch a drone swarm, Trump replied, "It's being investigated, but you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come."

Fox News Digital's Eric Mack contributed to this report.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 12 hours ago Waltz says Trump will 'end it' with Iran after 47 years, 'not going to kick the can anymore'

U.S. ambassador to United Nations Mike Waltz told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Thursday that President Donald Trump will end the conflict with Iran after 47 years of tensions.

“This war started [in] 1979,” Waltz mentioned, referring to the 12 months of the Iranian Revolution. “Began 47 years in the past and President Trump is now not going to only take up these assaults, whether or not it is the terrorist proxies, Hezbollah, Houthi, Hamas or assaults on infrastructure otherwise you identify it, the malicious exercise that that Iran has been as much as. He isn't going to kick the can anymore. He'll finish it.”

"The thing that's not changing right now is the absolute devastation that's going on within the Iranian economy. Their currency is in freefall. Their reserves are in freefall. If you remember the protests just a few months ago, it was from their merchant class. And that isn't going to get any better for this regime,” Waltz also said.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 12 hours ago White House considers temporary Jones Act waiver to 'ensure vital energy products' flow to US ports

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Thursday that, “In the interest of national defense, the White House is considering waiving the Jones Act for a limited period of time to ensure vital energy products and agricultural necessities are flowing freely to U.S. ports.”

“This action has not been finalized,” she added.

The Jones Act, which refers to Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires that vessels transporting goods or passengers between U.S. points be built in the United States, at least 75% owned by U.S. citizens, and mostly crewed by U.S. citizens.

Critics of the Jones Act argue that its mandates significantly increase the cost of shipping, which is ultimately passed on to consumers.

As Jones Act requirements may constrain the available supply of ships at particular times and places in the United States, it has been waived temporarily in response to major hurricanes.

For waivers requested by the Secretary of War, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been delegated the authority to waive the Jones Act immediately as the Secretary of War is the federal authority on “interests of national defense," the only grounds for Jones Act waivers.

The Jones Act has been waived in the past in connection to oil supply disruptions and world conflicts.

In response to oil supply disruptions stemming from the war in Libya, the Obama administration approved several Jones Act waivers from July 8, 2011, to September 9, 2011. The waivers helped to efficiently implement a sale from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) so that foreign vessels would be able “to transport the crude oil from U.S. delivery points to U.S. refineries.”

In the wake of a historic cyber attack, Biden administration Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas approved a temporary Jones Act waiver to allow for the swift transport of oil products between the Gulf Coast and the East Coast.

Fox News' Pat Ward contributed to this report.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 12 hours ago State Dept says 47,000 Americans returned from the Middle East to US, assistance provided to 32,000

A State Department official told Fox News that around 47,000 Americans have now returned to the U.S. since Operation Epic Fury was launched on Feb. 28.

The official said Thursday that the State Department has provided assistance to about 32,000 Americans and has reached out to every individual who has registered interest in support from the State Department.

Approximately four dozen charter flights will be completed by the end of the day on Thursday, the official added.

Fox News' James Levinson contributed to this report.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 13 hours ago Fire on the USS Gerald R Ford injures 2, aircraft carrier remains 'fully operational'

The U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet said Thursday that the USS Gerald R. Ford experienced a fire that injured two sailors, but that the carrier remains “fully operational.”

“On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces. The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained,” the agencies said.

“There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational,” they continued. “Two Sailors are currently receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition. Additional information will be provided when available.”

“The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury,” they also said.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 13 hours ago Trump says 'we've got our eyes on' Iranian sleeper cells in US

President Donald Trump hailed the swift prosecution of the military campaign against Iran, but acknowledged there are terrorist "sleeper cells" in the U.S. that have to be watched and dealt with.

Trump said Wednesday that he has been briefed on terror alerts and threats, including reported plans to conduct a drone attack in California, but he warned that any terrorists present in the country now might be the result of former President Joe Biden's "stupid open border."

"A lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border, but we know where most of them are: We've got our eye on all of them, I think," Trump said.

"They came in through the open-border policies of Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the worst — the worst president in the history of our country — and we've got our eyes on all of them," the president added.

"But the war itself is being prosecuted at a level that nobody has seen before," Trump continued. "It's pretty — it's pretty amazing to watch."

When asked about a leaked law enforcement bulletin put out about a possible Iranian revenge plot in California where a potential offshore boat might launch a drone swarm, Trump replied, "It's being investigated, but you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come."

13 hours ago Israel hits back after coordinated Iran-Hezbollah missile, drone strikes

Iran proxy Hezbollah fired some 200 missiles and drones into the Jewish state overnight and into Thursday in what Israeli media described as an "integrated Hezbollah and Iran joint attack."

The attacks prompted fierce retaliatory strikes from the Israeli Defense Forces into Hezbollah strongholds in the Beirut suburbs.

The Israel Defense Forces said, "The IDF is operating with determination against the Hezbollah terrorist organization following its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime. The IDF will not tolerate any harm to Israeli civilians and will forcibly respond against any threat posed to the State of Israel."

Calling its new operation "Eaten Straw," the terror group claimed to have targeted Israeli military sites in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, among other targets.

Matthew Levitt, a leading scholar on Hezbollah from the Washington Institute, told Fox News about Eaten Straw. "The term comes from a Koran verse about destroying one’s enemies to the point that they are destroyed like grains of straw husks. In fact, it is going to lead to a massive Israel response."

Just days prior to Wednesday’s attacks, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun charged Hezbollah with pushing Lebanon into becoming "a second Gaza."

An Israeli security expert from the Israel Alma Research and Education Center, Sarit Zehavi, told Fox News Digital, that "I think that Hezbollah is trying to scare Israel from launching further operations and I truly hope that we will not be afraid, and our government will do what it has to do."

Posted by Benjamin Weinthal 14 hours ago Israel suspends prayer at Jerusalem holy sites after Iranian missile falls nearby

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that prayer at “all holy sites” in Jerusalem has been suspended due to an Iranian missile barrage.

“The Iranian regime is firing missiles at Jerusalem, Israel's capital,” it wrote on X. “One of them struck a few hundred meters from the Old City, the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.”

“Protecting lives & worshippers' safety comes first. That is why prayer at all holy sites has been temporarily suspended,” the foreign ministry added.

It posted a video showing smoke rising at one of the sites.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 14 hours ago Iran's new leader issues new statement, says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a new message Thursday saying that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the war is over.

The message about the Strait of Hormuz -- a key route where much of the world's oil travels through -- was read by a news anchor on Iranian state television.

Khamenei also told Gulf neighbors that U.S. military bases need to be removed from their countries. Iran has repeatedly been firing at countries across the Middle East in response to the United States' Operation Epic Fury.

Mojtaba Khamenei did not appear in person while making the statement.

Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst said Thursday on "America's Newsroom" that the late ayatollah's son was injured in one of the opening strikes of Operation Epic Fury, citing an Israeli intelligence official. Yingst added that the official downplayed reports that Mojtaba Khamenei was critically injured.

Fox News' Thomas Ferraro contributed to this report.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 14 hours ago Gulf leaders 'furious, outraged' over Iranian attacks, US Ambassador to UN says

U.S. Ambassador to U.N. Michael Waltz told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" on Thursday that leaders of Gulf states are “furious” and “outraged’ over Iran’s repeated attacks against them in recent days.

"The Iranian strategy of sowing chaos, shooting in all directions, hitting its Gulf neighbors, even hitting countries as far away as Turkey and Azerbaijan, is absolutely backfiring,” Waltz said.

"Here's why it's so significant. Number one, many of these countries have taken kind of a neutral position over the years when it comes to Iran,” Waltz explained.

"Qatar, for example, shares a massive gas field, the Pars gas field, with Iran, that stretches across the straits there. UAE has a massive free trade zone of Iranian goods. Oman was just mediating and providing the kind of neutral actor for us during the negotiations that Iran never approached in good faith,” Waltz said.

“They are all now standing strong. They are all uniformly, I got to tell you, and talking to them on a personal level, furious, outraged. And the fact that Iran is hitting hotels, resorts, ports, their shipping, you know, all of those, their airports, all of those civilian infrastructure has them squarely aligned with the United States,” he said.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 15 hours ago Sirens sound in Tel Aviv as Iran appears to launch missile barrage

Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported sirens sounding in Tel Aviv on Thursday as the Iranian regime appeared to launch a fresh barrage of missiles against Israel.

"Over the past 24 hours, we've actually seen joint attacks by the Iranian regime and Hezbollah. They appear to be coordinating when they can to launch a number of missiles and rockets at the same time at Israeli cities," Yingst said on Fox News' "America's Newsroom."

"We know, according to US Central Command and the Israeli Air Force, they are going after these launching positions. One official here told me they are hunting the ballistic missile launchers, and that's part of the reason that we have seen oftentimes hours go by without sirens sounding here in Tel Aviv," he added.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 15 hours ago Trump asserts US 'largest oil producer in the world,' but blocking Iran nuclear weapons top priority

President Donald Trump said Thursday that his priority is preventing the "evil" Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon despite concerns over oil prices.

“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World. I won’t ever let that happen!” he added.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 15 hours ago Qatar intercepts missile attack as Iran continues fire on its neighbors

Qatar's Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that its armed forces "intercepted" a missile attack that targeted the country.

The development comes after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also reported being targeted by attacks on Thursday involving missiles and drones.

U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper had said Wednesday that "Iranian forces continue to deliberately target innocent civilians in Gulf countries while hiding behind their own people as they launch attacks from highly populated cities in Iran."

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 15 hours ago Nancy Mace says she 'jumped in to assist' as Americans airlifted from war zone amid Iran conflict

While House Republicans gathered in South Florida to map out their strategy ahead of November’s midterm elections, one GOP lawmaker said she "jumped in to assist" with evacuation efforts overseas amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital that she traveled to the Middle East on Sunday after she learned a South Carolina family was trapped in the wake of the conflict.

"When your people are stranded in a war zone, the only answer worthy of the office, worthy of our state, worthy of our country, is to get them out," Mace, who is running to be South Carolina’s next governor, said in a statement.

After the family made it safely back to South Carolina, Mace said she stayed in the region and partnered with Grey Bull Rescue, a Tampa-based crisis response group led by military veterans, to evacuate more Americans. Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens have scrambled to leave the Middle East following widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures due to Iranian counterstrikes.

Mace said she worked with the State Department to charter a flight for the stranded Americans while the private nonprofit supplied logistics for the rescue mission. On Wednesday night, Mace and dozens of American families on the flight landed in Greece.

Mace said 155 Americans — including 11 infants — were evacuated from Israel as part of Grey Bull Rescue’s 808th mission. The group says it has rescued 591 Americans from the region since the outbreak of the conflict.

15 hours ago Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be tapped 'next week' to ease gas prices, energy secretary says

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright told Fox News anchor and White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be tapped "next week" to ease strain on gas prices.

The U.S. announced on Wednesday that Washington, along with the International Energy Agency (IEA), will soon release a historic volume of oil from its emergency reserves.

The United States will add another 172 million barrels from its own Strategic Petroleum Reserve starting next week, according to Wright.

Fox News Digital's Bonny Chu contributed to this report.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 16 hours ago Israel takes out Iranian commander who had close ties with Lebanon’s Hezbollah

The Israel Defense Forces announced Thursday that it has killed Abu Dharr Mohammadi, an Iranian commander who was “a central figure coordinating between Hezbollah and the Iranian terror regime.”

The IDF said Mohammadi was “the operations commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s (IRGC) missile unit within Hezbollah in Beirut,” and, “played a key role in rehabilitating Hezbollah’s missile program following Operation Northern Arrows” that Israel launched against the terrorist group in late 2024.

The announcement of the death comes after the IDF said it carried out a large-scale wave of strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut on Wednesday.

“During the strikes, the IDF eliminated dozens of Hezbollah terrorists while they were preparing launches toward Israel and dismantled dozens of launchers ready to fire. The IDF will not tolerate any harm to the residents of the State of Israel,” the IDF said.

“70 terror targets were struck including terrorist infrastructure, weapons storage facilities, central headquarters, key terrorists, and an IRGC Air Force HQ in Beirut,” it added early Thursday.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 16 hours ago American 'lethality and precision' is 'eliminating' Iran's ability to target US forces, CENTCOM says

U.S. Central Command said Thursday that it is "eliminating Iran’s ability to threaten American forces and regional partners through lethality and precision."

CENTCOM posted a video on X depicting strikes on Iranian missile infrastructure.

"Of course, forces executing Operation Epic Fury aren't just defending against Iranian threats. We are methodically dismantling them by hitting Iranian missiles and drones as we also strike their defense industrial base," CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Wednesday.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 17 hours ago IDF hits additional Iranian nuclear weapon development compound amid wide scale wave of strikes

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it has started launching a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure across the country.

Following that announcement, the IDF said, “As part of the waves of strikes completed in the past days in Tehran, the Israeli Air Force, acting on precise IDF intelligence, struck an additional Iranian nuclear program site.”

“The ‘Taleghan’ compound was utilized by the regime to advance critical capabilities for developing nuclear weapons,” according to the IDF. “In recent years, the compound was utilized to develop advanced explosives and to conduct sensitive experiments as part of the ‘AMAD’ project, the covert nuclear weapon development program in the 2000s.”

“During Operation Rising Lion, the IDF has operated systematically against knowledge centers and infrastructure related to the Iranian nuclear weapon program in order to eliminate the emerging existential threat to the State of Israel. Despite the significant damage inflicted on the program, the Iranian regime has continued efforts to advance and develop capabilities required for the development of a nuclear weapon,” it also said.

Fox News' Yonat Friling contributed to this report.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 17 hours ago New CENTCOM video shows US forces strike Iranian planes as regime ‘losing air capability day by day'

Iran’s regime is “losing air capability day by day” following repeated strikes by American forces, U.S. Central Command said late Wednesday.

“U.S. forces aren’t just defending against Iranian threats, we are methodically dismantling them,” CENTCOM wrote on X.It shared a video showing U.S. military strikes hitting planes parked in Iran, causing fireballs and sending debris flying into the air.

Operation Epic Fury, which was launched on Feb. 28 and resulted in the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, entered a thirteenth day Thursday.

Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond 18 hours ago Container ship struck by projectile 40 miles off Dubai, British military says

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a container ship was struck by an "unknown projectile" 35 nautical miles northwest of Dubai and Jebel Ali.

"UKMTO has received a report of an incident 35NM north of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates," the UKMTO said on Thursday. "The Master has reported the container ship was struck by unknown projectile causing a small fire onboard."

All crew members were reported as safe. There has been no reported environmental damage.

The incident remains under investigation.

18 hours ago Bahrain says fuel tanks near international airport struck by Iran, set ablaze

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said Iran struck its fuel tanks located near Bahrain International Airport, which started a fire.

The Iranian attack hit fuel tanks at a facility in the Muharraq Governorate, the ministry said on X.

Those in the area were urged to remain in their homes and close windows and ventilation openings as a precautionary measure against possible exposure to smoke, as fire officials worked to put out the blaze.

Authorities also shut down roads in the area and directed drivers to take alternative routes.

Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs said it relocated several Gulf Air aircraft and cargo planes to alternative airports, including sites in Saudi Arabia, in response to the threat.