Explosions now heard in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, amidst a new wave of Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes.

In an eight-minute interview with Axios on Thursday, President Donald J. Trump acknowledged that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iranian politician and son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the most likely successor and next Supreme Leader of Iran, which he stated is “unacceptable” and that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next leader - just as he was in Venezuela.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” Trump said, added that he refuses to accept a new Iranian leader who would continue the policies of Khamenei. “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has released video of Air Force B-52H “Stratofortress” Long-Range Strategic Bombers launching from their home at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, to strike command and control centers in Iran during the first 100 Hours of Operation Epic Fury.

Finland’s Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen announced today that the government has proposed and is expected to pass legislation lifting its ban on the import and transport of nuclear weapons, potentially paving the way for the deployment of nuclear-capable aircraft and warheads by members of NATO, including France and/or the United States, onto the territory of Finland.

Arab States in the Persian Gulf are running dangerously low on interceptors to take down Iranian-fired ballistic and cruise missiles, as governments in the region have ask the United States to expedite new supplies, with them being told that officials in Washington are creating a task force to do so - but it isn't happening as fast as needed, two regional officials told CBS News.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces that the United States has officially requested the assistance of Ukraine in supporting the defense against Iranian Shahed-style attack drones in the Middle East, with him stating, “I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people. Glory to Ukraine!”

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced via a post on TruthSocial that Kristi Noem will be removed from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security, effective immediately, stating that he will be nominating Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to eventually lead the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump states that Noem will be moving to a newly created position, Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative by the United States in the Western Hemisphere, which is expected I be revealed on Saturday in Florida.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense has announced the interception of three ballistic missiles fired by Iran that were attempting to target Prince Sultan Air Base to the south of Riyadh.

During a phone interview Thursday with ABC News, President Trump marveled at the success of the military operations so far this year against Venezuela and Iran, telling Jonathan Karl, “I hope you are impressed. How do you like the performance? I mean, Venezuela is obvious. This might be even better. How do you like the performance?”

Karl said that nobody questions the success of the military operation against Iran, the concern is what happens next, to which Trump responded, “Forget about next. They are decimated for a 10-year period before they could build it back.”

Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait is currently ablaze, following several reported Iranian drone and missile strikes against the base, which hosts units of the U.S. and Kuwaiti Air Force.

Explosions and air defense activity reported over Bahrain, following early warning of a ballistic missile attack by Iran.

The United States joined Russia, China, Niger, and several other adversary countries on Thursday in opposing a resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors denouncing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including off-site power supply plants for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, as a threat to nuclear safety, diplomats told Reuters.

Two hotels and a residential building in Bahrain’s capital of Manama were damaged in an Iranian drone and missile attack within the last few minutes, with no reported loss of life, according to the Ministry of Interior.

The estimated cost of a single AN/TPY-2 BMD Radar ranges from $500 million to $1 billion, with the United States only operating a total of thirteen, the 13th being delivered to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency by RTX's Raytheon in 2025.

Damage from an Iranian one-way attack drone seen to a hotel tonight in Bahrain’s capital of Manama, with the Ministry of Interior having previously reported damage to two hotels and a residential building as a result of attacks by Iran.

U.S. officials tell CBS News that a total of three MQ-9 “Reaper” Surveillance and Attack Drones with the U.S. Air Force have been downed so far during Operation Epic Fury. It's not clear where exactly the three drones crashed, but one of the Reapers attempted to crash off the coast of Iran, while another is believed to have been shot down during a “friendly fire” incident by Qatar.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has just published footage showing several strikes earlier today against the IRIS Shahid Bagheri, a converted container ship turned drone carrier operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN), which is currently on fire and sinking in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Bandar Abbas.

Kuwait is under attack yet again by Iran, with the Kuwaiti Army saying in a statement minutes ago: “Kuwaiti Air Defenses are currently dealing with hostile missile and drone attacks that have breached the airspace of the State of Kuwait.”

Several dozen officers with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), most members of the IRGC’s Quds Force working as advisors towards Hezbollah, have fled the Lebanese capital of Beirut over the last 48 hours fearing they will be targeted by Israel, two senior Israeli defense officials and a third source with knowledge of the situation told Axios.