U.S. intelligence assets have begun to see indications Iran is taking steps to deploy some of its 2,000 to 6,000 naval mines of Iranian, Chinese and Russian-origin into shipping lanes across the Strait of Hormuz, utilizing smaller crafts that can carry 2 to 3 mines each, officials tell CBS News.

According to a statement provided earlier by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell: “Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 140 U.S. servicemembers have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks. The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty. Eight servicemembers remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care.”

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff spoke this morning on CNBC about Russia’s involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East with Iran:

Reporter: “Do we think that the Russians have shared intelligence about the location of U.S. military assets? And if they have, why would we be giving waivers on Russian oil sanctions?”

Witkoff: “Well, I'm not an intel officer, so I can't tell you. I can tell you that yesterday on the call with the President, the Russians said that they have not been sharing. That's what they said. So, you know, we can take them at their word, but they did say that. And yesterday morning, independently, Jared and I had a call with Ushakov, who reiterated the same. So... I, you know, that's a better question for the intel people, but let's hope that they're not sharing.”

Iran has begun laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important energy chokepoint that carries about one-fifth of all crude oil, according to two people familiar with U.S. intelligence who spoke to CNN. Only a few dozen having been laid in recent days, the sources said, but Iran has the capability to deploy hundreds if not thousands more, retaining upward of 80% to 90% of its small boats and mine layers operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

U.S. President Donald J. Trump claims that they have no reports that Iran has deployed any naval mines within the Strait of Hormuz, but states that if they have, they want them removed, “IMMEDIATELY!” Trump states that if they are not removed, “the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before.” And if they are removed, “it will be a giant step in the right direction!”

U.S. Air Force/Navy’s targeting of a Ghadir-class midget submarine operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.

New footage released by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shows strikes on IRGC naval craft, including a Shahid Soleimani-class catamaran. Notably, following reports that Iran is now using small craft to launch dozens of mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a number of small craft can be seen targeted in the strike footage released by CENTCOM.

After reports came out that Iran was using small craft to mine the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced on TruthSocial that “10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships” have been destroyed.

U.S. Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Systems seen intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles launched at targets across the Middle East, in the first such footage published by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair privately urged House Republicans on Tuesday to stop publicly emphasizing “mass deportations” and instead focus their messaging on removing violent criminals, during a policy listening session at their annual retreat in Doral, Florida, according to sources in the closed-door briefing who spoke to Axios.

Per a release from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense (IMOD), Muhammad Alaa Air Base and Ali Fallah Air Base have been targeted a number of times over the past couple of days. As noted by the IMOD statement, these bases are "sovereign" Iraqi bases and do not host U.S. Forces.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense reports that six ballistic missiles were launched tonight by Iran at Prince Sultan Air Base to the south of Riyadh, with all six being intercepted by air-defenses of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.

Following President Trump’s announcement in regard to the targeting of several inactive mine-laying vessels operated by the Iranian Navy and IRGCN, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has published footage showing strikes against nine small vessels that could be used by Iran for laying naval mines within the Strait of Hormuz.

F/A-18E/F Super Hornets assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) carry out daytime flight operations onboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) in the Northern Red Sea, in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 7, 2026.

The U.S. Navy has refused near-daily requests from the oil and shipping industries for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing strike campaign against Iran, saying the risk of attacks is too high for now, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters.

The UK Office of Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is reporting an attack on a container vessel in the Persian Gulf, roughly 25NM northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. The vessel reportedly sustained damage from a suspected but unknown projectile, with the extent of the damage still not known.

According to the Washington Post, citing an internal U.S. alert viewed by the Post, a one-way attack drone impacted the U.S. Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center in Baghdad, Iraq, today. The support center, a logistical hub for U.S. diplomats in close proximity to Iraqi bases and Baghdad Airport, was targeted by Iranian-backed militias in what an unnamed security official called retaliation for the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. 5 out of the 6 drones launched by militias were shot down, with one hitting the facility. At the time of writing, no injuries have been reported.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121), fires a BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile (TLAM) against a target in Iran, during operations in support of Operation Epic Fury, within the U.S. Central Command Area-of-Responsibility.