Israel cut outbound flight capacity by ~50% after Iranian missile strikes damaged planes at Ben-Gurion Airport.

Source: Haaretz

Donald Trump’s approval ratings have dropped to their lowest levels yet on the economy and cost of living, according to a new poll.

Overall, 38% approve of his performance while 59% disapprove. Views on key issues are worse, with strong dissatisfaction over inflation, gas prices, and rising living costs—61% say inflation is getting worse.

The decline is partly tied to economic pressure linked to the Iran conflict.

Source: Newsweek

John Bolton on Iran:

Kaja Kallas says, "Iran is not Europe's war." I'm just telling you that kind of rhetoric could very well lead Donald Trump to say, "Well, alright, it's not Europe's war. Guess what, Ukraine is not America's war."

And that's not the right outcome.

South Korea is considering importing Russian crude oil and naphtha as it looks to secure energy supplies during ongoing Middle East tensions, the Industry Ministry said.

South Korea stopped importing Russian oil in December 2022 after the Ukraine invasion.

Iran will still compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup but plans to avoid playing matches in the United States due to security concerns.

Iran is scheduled to play group games in the US, but officials are asking FIFA to move them to Mexico instead.

The US Embassy in Riyadh advised American citizens to consider leaving Saudi Arabia if they can do so safely.

NEW: A British military team is heading to Florida to help develop plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: NYT

Hegseth on Iran:

A dishonest and anti-Trump press will stop at nothing—we know this by now—to downplay progress, amplify every cost, and call every step into question.

Sadly, TDS is in their DNA. They want Trump to fail.

But the American people know better.

Hegseth on Iran:

The media here—not all of it, but much of it—wants you to think that just 19 days into this conflict, we’re somehow heading toward an endless abyss, a forever war, or a quagmire.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Hegseth on Iran:

We’re winning decisively, and on our terms. Iran is a vast country, and just like Hamas and their tunnels, they’ve poured any aid—any economic development, humanitarian aid—into tunnels and rockets. That’s what they did with Hamas.

Iran has funneled decades of state resources not to their people, but into missiles, drones, proxies, and buried facilities.

But we are hunting them down—methodically, ruthlessly, and overwhelmingly—like no other military in the world can.

And the results speak for themselves.

Hegseth on Iran:

To date, we’ve struck over 7,000 targets across Iran and its military infrastructure. That is not incremental—that is overwhelming force applied with precision.

And again today will be the largest strike package yet.

Yet, just like yesterday, as I’ve said from day one, our capabilities continue to build while Iran’s continue to degrade.

We’re hunting and striking—death and destruction from above.

Hegseth on Iran:

Now, the Iranians will still shoot—we know that. But they would shoot a lot more if they could. They just can’t.

Hegseth on Iran:

The last jobs anyone in the world wants right now: senior leader for the IRGC or Basij—temp jobs, all of them.

Hegseth on Iran:

My 13-year-old son came into my office last night while I was editing these remarks. He asked about the war—and the families I met at Dover.

I looked at him and said: they died for you, son—so that your generation doesn’t have to deal with a nuclear Iran.

Hegseth on Iran:

The world, the Middle East, our ungrateful allies in Europe, and even segments of our own press should be saying one thing to Trump: thank you.

Botswana Denies Accusations of Hosting U.S. Military Base

Botswana's Director of Public Service Tuduetso Mokgosi denied claims his country hosts a US base at Thebephatshwa Air Base, affirming full national control amid rising geopolitical competition for military access in Africa.

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General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

We’re now flying further east and penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to hunt and destroy one-way attack systems.

The A-10 Warthog is now engaged across the southern flank, targeting fast attack watercraft in the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition, AH-64 Apaches have joined the fight on the southern flank, continuing operations alongside allies—including missions to counter one-way attack drones.

Hegseth on Iran:

Ultimately, it will be the president’s decision when we say, “We’ve achieved what we need to on behalf of the American people to ensure our security.”

So, no—there is no set timeline. But we are very much on track. Absolutely.

Hegseth on Iran:

The Gulf States have stepped up incredibly. In fact, Iran’s reckless attempt to strike civilian infrastructure and other targets has brought countries—who might not have been as fully engaged before—squarely into our orbit.

We’re proud to be defending alongside them and standing with them.

You name it—UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia—and others who have been right there with us.

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, admits:

They still retain some capability.

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a temporary pause in fighting across the Middle East, urging all sides to de-escalate tensions and allow space for negotiations amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes.

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