Israel Katz, Israel’s defense minister, said the war with Iran is “escalating” and entering a “decisive phase” that will continue as long as necessary. He added that only the Iranian people can ultimately bring the conflict to an end, saying it would require a determined struggle leading to the fall of what he called the regime. Katz made the remarks during a briefing alongside Eyal Zamir, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, and other senior military officials.

The Israel Defense Forces carried out a new wave of strikes across Tehran, targeting what it described as dozens of infrastructure sites tied to the Iran regime. According to the military, the attacks destroyed Iran’s primary space research center, which houses strategic laboratories involved in military satellite development, including surveillance, targeting, and fire-control systems used across the region. The strikes also hit several facilities connected to air-defense production, including a major factory responsible for manufacturing key components of Iran’s air-defense systems.

According to a report from Breaking Defense, the U.S. Navy has officially delayed the decommissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) until at least March of 2027 to maintain a fleet size of 11 active carriers. Its replacement will be the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), which is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in mid-2027.

The Israel Defense Force has announced that two senior intelligence officers with Iran’s “Khatam al-Anbiya” Emergency Command, Abdollah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat, were eliminated Friday in a strike on Tehran.

President Trump has asked China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to send warships to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Reuters, some oil export operations at the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates have been suspended following an Iran drone attack earlier today. Multiple areas of the port—one of the UAE’s most critical energy hubs and its only oil export terminal located outside the Strait of Hormuz—were seen burning after the strike.

Iranian missile hits southern Israel; no initial reports of injuries.

FAA statement: "The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers."

Video shows the launch of Iranian drones against, Israel, their Gulf neighbors, and U.S. bases and infrastructure in the region.

JD Vance: “Gas prices are where they are today because of Donald Trump’s efforts to bring them down. During the Biden administration, they were extremely high. What we’re seeing now is nothing like the peak during that time, because the president has positioned the country for energy dominance.”

Kilmeade: “You think Putin is helping them [Iran]?” President Trump: “I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?” Kilmeade: “And you are, right?” President Trump: “Yeah, we're helping them also, and so he says that, and China would say the same thing, you know. It's like, hey, they do it and we do it, in all fairness. They do it, we do it.”

Federal judge James Boasberg blocked subpoenas served by the Justice Department to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in a probe purportedly tied to the central bank’s renovation, writing in a court filing that “a mountain of evidence suggests” the move was meant to pressure him into backing lower interest rates or resigning. - NBC

Video shows multiple explosions in Tehran, Iran. - Vahid

Approximately 5,000 additional Marines and sailors are deploying to the Middle East to support the war in Iran, according to three U.S. officials. - NBC View quoted note →

🚨Axios: Trump rejected Putin offer to move Iran's uranium to Russia

Footage of USAF B-2 Spirit stealth bombers heading out to strike Iranian targets.

Footage of a cluster munition-equipped Iranian ballistic missile falling on central Israel tonight. Multiple areas were reportedly damaged, including a residential unit.

Donald Trump: “I don’t think there’s been anything like my first victory in history—it was unbelievable. But coming back and winning again… some people say it was even bigger than the first time. In a way, what happened in 2020 made the second victory much bigger.”

IDF operations in Lebanon: More than 1,100 strikes hit Hezbollah targets, including 190 Radwan Force sites, 200 missile/launcher positions, 35 command centers, and 80 multi-story terror facilities. Over 380 Hezbollah operatives have been neutralized while the IDF maintains a forward defense posture.

Around 2,200 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to ABC News. They will deploy alongside the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, which includes the USS Tripoli (LHA-7), USS San Diego (LPD-22), and USS New Orleans (LPD-18), supported by roughly 20 F-35B Lightning II aircraft. The USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are forward-based in Sasebo and Okinawa, Japan.