According to The New York Times, the Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary group, Kataib Hezbollah, not to be confused with Lebanese Hezbollah, has offered to negotiate with the Iraqi government for the release of kidnapped American journalist, Shelly Kittleson. The group demands the release of some of their detained militia members in exchange for her release. Kittleson was kidnapped this past Tuesday in Baghdad.

A U.S. Navy F-18E/F Super Hornet belonging to Strike Fighter Squadron 41, the "Black Aces," from Carrier Air Wing 9 is seen here launching from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 31, 2026.

Austria has rejected U.S. requests for use of its airspace since the start of the ongoing Iran War, due to the country’s neutrality law, Col. Michael Bauer, a Spokesman for the Austrian Defense Ministry told the AFP.

Per a release from the Israel Defense Force, in the past 24 hours the Israeli Air Force has targeted more than 60 Iranian ballistic missile production and launch sites across Iran, in 20+ strikes in central and western Tehran. 140+ munitions were used in the strikes.

The 41st Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, Gen. Randy George, has been asked to step down from the post and retire immediately by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who wants someone in the role who will implement his and President Trump “vision” for the Army, sources tell CBS News. Vice Chief of a Staff of the Army, Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who was formerly Hegseth’s military aide, will serve as Acting Army Chief of Staff until a successor to Gen. George is approved by the Senate.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has again claimed that they shot down an American fighter jet. This time off the coast of Qeshm Island. However, the video released does not appear to show the downing of the jet, as the deployment of flares can clearly be seen up until the end of the video.

Following the announcement by the IRGC, accompanied by a questionable video, claiming to have shot down a fighter jet, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has stated that these reports are false, saying that “all U.S. fighter jets are accounted for.”

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to allow personnel with the Defense Department - namely, uniformed servicemembers - to request to carry privately owned firearms while in their nonofficial duty capacity on military bases within the United States. 

U.S. intelligence assesses that Iran still maintains a significant missile launching capability, including roughly half of its cruise and ballistic launchers, as well as thousands of one-way attack drones, despite daily strikes against military targets across Iran for the last five weeks by Israel and the United States, three sources familiar with the assessment told CNN.