The U.S. pauses Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf vessels. Despite renewed violence, officials say the ceasefire holds as diplomatic talks advance.
Posts tagged as “the Joint Chiefs of Staff”
Navy Secretary John Phelan departs immediately amid tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over shipbuilding and naval strategy. His exit follows a series of high-level military dismissals under the Trump administration.
U.S. gasoline prices have surged past $4 per gallon due to disruptions in global oil supplies caused by the Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump plans a prime-time address to update on the situation, promising a resolution soon and a return to lower fuel prices, though experts warn prices may rise further in the short term. Meanwhile, Trump's threats to target Iranian civilian infrastructure have drawn condemnation from legal experts who warn such actions could constitute war crimes, amid ongoing regional casualties and accusations against all involved parties.
The United States and Israel have escalated military strikes against Iran, with the U.S. conducting over 7,000 attacks on Iranian military and industrial sites as part of Operation Epic Fury, while Israel targeted key Iranian officials and energy infrastructure. These actions have heightened tensions and disrupted global energy markets, prompting President Trump to warn Israel against further attacks on shared resources unless provoked by Iran, and calls for international efforts to reopen the closed Strait of Hormuz. Despite significant damage to Iran’s capabilities, intelligence reports indicate the regime remains intact, amid ongoing investigations into leaks related to the conflict and revelations of covert coordination between the U.S. and Israel.
The Pentagon provided updates on the U.S.-Iran conflict, reporting a significant reduction in Iran’s missile capabilities and ongoing investigations into a recent U.S. tanker crash in Iraq. Despite extensive U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, Iranian attacks continue, impacting global oil prices and prompting temporary easing of sanctions on Russian oil to stabilize markets. Public opinion remains divided over the conflict, with mixed messaging from U.S. officials and Iran asserting its intent to control the Strait of Hormuz and sustain attacks in the region.
US and China have resumed high-level military to military communications for the first time in over a year, following a commitment made by President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The call between Gen. Charles Q. Brown and Gen. Liu Zhenli is a step in the right direction and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is working to set up further calls at various levels. The call is hoped to reduce tensions and prevent any potential conflict.
Adrienne Watson, National Security Council spokesperson, condemned North Korea's attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit, which was detected by South Korea's military and successfully launched late Tuesday night. Japan briefly issued an advisory in Okinawa and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launch, while the missile was believed to have passed into the Pacific Ocean. Watson's statement called the launch a "brazen violation of multiple international laws and norms."
Federal prosecutors have requested a limited gag order on former President Donald Trump, citing a pattern of incendiary and intimidating statements made by him about witnesses in the case charging him with scheming to overturn the 2020 election results. The filing highlighted Trump’s comments during an interview this month with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” and noted that he has made a “sustained campaign of prejudicial public statements” about witnesses, the court, the district, and prosecutors. The prosecutors argued that the gag order is necessary to ensure a fair trial and to protect the integrity of the judicial process.