According to U.S. officials cited by ABC, the Pentagon plans to extend the National Guard’s federal mission in Washington, D.C. through January 20, 2029, covering the remainder of President Donald Trump’s second term. The plan is in its final stages and is awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s final approval.

The U.S. State Department has notified Congress of $16.5 billion in foreign military sales (FMS) to Gulf partners, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. The package for the UAE includes AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, F-16 munitions and upgrades, a Long-Range Discrimination Radar integrated with THAAD, the FS-LIDS counter-drone system, and additional support equipment. Kuwait is set to receive lower-tier air and missile defense sensor radars, while Jordan’s package focuses on aircraft repair and ordnance support.

Reports indicate that Israel is carrying out a new wave of airstrikes across Iran tonight, with explosions reported in the capital, Tehran, as Iranian air defenses remain active. Early, unconfirmed reports suggest the strikes may have included another targeted “decapitation” operation aimed at senior Iranian leadership, continuing a pattern seen in recent days.

The Kuwaiti Army again says that they are actively working to intercept a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks, saying that any explosions heard are the result of interceptions of Iranian ordnance.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a 300-for-300 prisoner exchange was carried out in Al-Hasakah between Syria’s transitional government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The swap is part of a broader agreement signed in January that aims to gradually integrate the SDF into the transitional government framework.

Debris from Iranian missile hits northern Israel.

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)—including the USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Comstock (LSD-45), and USS Portland (LPD-27)—alongside the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU), has departed the U.S. West Coast and is heading to the Middle East. According to officials speaking to Newsmax, the deployment has been accelerated, with the group expected to transit directly through the Indo-Pacific to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility near Iran, as part of a Pentagon-ordered effort to surge additional firepower into the region.

During remarks in the Oval Office alongside Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Donald Trump was asked why the U.S. did not inform allies ahead of strikes on Iran. “You don’t want to signal too much. We went in very hard, and we didn’t tell anybody because we wanted surprise. Who knows more about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”

Onboard footage from a Saudi air defense crew as they shoot down an incoming Iranian attack drone near Riyadh with their Oerlikon GDF AAA system.

Iran just released footage reportedly showing one of its air defense systems successfully hitting an American F-35.

Benjamin Netanyahu said that while there are signs of “cracks” forming within Iran’s regime, its survival remains a real possibility amid the ongoing war. He suggested that any potential collapse would ultimately depend on the Iranian people, noting that despite mounting pressure, the regime could still endure.

Hegseth: “Our ungrateful allies in Europe should be saying one thing to President Trump: thank you.”

Two correspondents, RT’s Steve Sweeney and a cameraman were wounded in an Israeli airstrike this morning on the Al-Qasmiya Bridge over the Litani River in Southern Lebanon.

During testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the intelligence community assesses that Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was effectively destroyed during last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer and that no attempts to resume enrichment have been detected since. Her remarks contrast with previous claims from Israel and the Trump administration surrounding the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Gabbard also emphasized that determining whether a threat is “imminent” is not the role of the intelligence community, but rather the responsibility of the President.

According to The Washington Post, U.S. officials have detected unidentified drones over Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. over the past two weeks, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reside. Officials say the origin of the drones remains unknown, though monitoring has intensified amid heightened alert levels tied to the war with Iran. Multiple drones were reportedly spotted on a single night within the past 10 days, prompting increased security measures and a White House meeting on how to respond. The incidents also led officials to consider relocating Rubio and Hegseth, though a senior administration official said both remain at the base.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense has said that they shot sown 3 Iranian drones in the eastern region of the country.

"The Qatari Ministry of Defense announces that the State of Qatar was subjected to a ballistic missile attack from Iran, targeting Ras Laffan Industrial City, resulting in damages."

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, issued a series of remarks addressing Iran’s attacks across the Gulf. He warned that Saudi Arabia “reserves the right to take military action” against Iran and emphasized that the kingdom’s patience is “not limitless” amid ongoing strikes. The comments come as reports suggest Riyadh has taken a more hawkish stance behind the scenes, while publicly continuing to call for de-escalation.

Iran is now striking Gulf nation oil and gas infrastructure in earnest, claiming the move is retaliation for the targeting of industry across Iran by a the U.S. and Israel.

According to Reuters, the Trump administration is considering deploying thousands of additional U.S. combat troops to the Middle East as planning continues for the next phase of the war with Iran. One option under discussion includes deploying U.S. forces to Iran’s coastline to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would mark a significant escalation if approved.