The American pilot of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle that was shot down over Iran in April, requiring a high-risk rescue mission by special forces, described a shocking sight before ejecting from his aircraft: multiple Iranian drones hovering in the air, moving as one, in a formation that resembled a jellyfish, four sources familiar with the matter have told CNN.

“Multiple drones interconnected and moving as one with smaller drones below the bigger drones like legs,” one of the sources familiar with the pilot’s witness account told CNN. “Real alien sh*t.” Another source said that the pilot described witnessing a “minefield of drones” in the air prior to being downed over Iran. The pilot’s account immediately set off a firestorm of debate that has yet to be resolved within the U.S. Intelligence Community.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced in a post this morning on TruthSocial that he will allow the Strait of Hormuz to remain open, with no further naval blockade, but that the ships will remain in place “should it be necessary to reinstitute the Blockade, which seems, at this point, highly unlikely.” The President adds that money and sanctions on Iran being released by the U.S. Treasury, estimated to initially be around $12 billion, will be “used for the purchase of food and medical supplies, exclusively from the United States, including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American Farmers.”

At least 9 U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft are currently visible operating over and around the Strait of Hormuz, including 6 KC-135 "Stratotankers" and 3 KC-46A "Pegasus".

While activity levels have varied in recent days, this represents one of the larger tanker concentrations observed recently.

According to Iranian state-backed news agency Fars, Pakistani decision-makers have overstated their involvement in the negotiation process between the US and Iran. Per the report, comments from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on portions of the U.S.-Iran negotiating framework are not true, and their involvement has decreased while Qatar’s role has increased.

The U.S. National Parks Service has begun erecting a chain link fence around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, after President Trump accused “Pro-Algae Protesters” of creating algae in and damaging the newly renovated pool, which was originally supposed to be ready for the 4th of July.

The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 to pass a concurrent resolution to limit U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s ability to resume combat operations against Iran. Four Senate Republicans voted in favor of the resolution, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul. However, the measure, under the 1973 War Powers Act, is seen by some as more symbolic due to the lacking built in mechanisms to ensure the Executive Branch’s compliance with the resolution and the current ceasefire tenuously holding.

The commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, General Chris Donahue has submitted his retirement papers, according to a number of news outlets, citing people familiar with the matter. Best known for being the “last man” out of Afghanistan during the 2021 Afghanistan pullout that was wrought with complications, General Donahue reportedly clashed with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Donahue previously served as the commander of CAG and the 82nd Airborne Division. He is expected to leave in July.

Several tourists are rushed and questioned by U.S. Park Police for touching the water of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

Yesterday’s abrupt retirement announcement by Gen. Chris Donahue, the Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and NATO’s Allied Land Command, was made at the request of the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, people familiar with the matter tell The Wall Street Journal.

Prior to this announcement, many believed Donahue was on a fast track to become Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, having led the Army’s Delta Force commandos in Iraq and Syria when it took the fight to Islamic State militants and was the “last man out” when the troops he commanded at the 82nd Airborne Division were called in to secure the 2021 evacuation of U.S. personnel and Afghan allies from Kabul, Afghanistan.

General Donahue’s removal is said to be part of an ongoing push by Hegseth to put his imprint on the military’s leadership, while squeezing out officers with track records of battlefield valor and command experience in favor of less accomplished political loyalists, officers that fully support both himself and President Trump.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that the Iranians have communicated to the U.S. that they will not charge tolls or fees for safe commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This comes following the Omani announcement that the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) current transit framework, known as the Traffic Separation Scheme, is no longer viable. Per the Omani release, which we will cover in more detail in coming posts, they will work with the IMO to guide ships through the strait using an amended route framework.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that he will not sign the new housing bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, due to the current Congressional logjam on the Save America Act. Per President Trump, his signing of the housing is contingent on the Save America Act passing.

As U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington, D.C. are actively in session, reports indicate that Israel has conducted a strike in Southern Lebanon, as reports also come in of additional Israeli drone activity over the capital Beirut.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished the UAE-leg of his Middle East diplomatic tour and has set out for Kuwait. He is also set to visit Bahrain during his trip.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished the UAE-leg of his Middle East diplomatic tour and has set out for Kuwait. He is also set to visit Bahrain during his trip.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished the UAE-leg of his Middle East diplomatic tour and has set out for Kuwait. He is also set to visit Bahrain during his trip.

Speaking to press in Kuwait, when asked about Israeli willingness to allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to administer key contested areas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that work is being made to establish a “pilot zone” framework. Per Secretary Rubio, the Lebanese Army would incrementally begin taking over these zones one by one in a staggered approach to taking over administrative control over key areas in Southern Lebanon.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper is set to visit Israel tomorrow, against the backdrop of ramped-up U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon negotiations.

Additionally, Admiral Cooper’s visit also comes after CENTCOM proposed a deconfliction framework to monitor and report ceasefire violations paired with increased interoperability with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Northern Venezuela earlier, causing numerous building collapses and extensive damage, including in the capital of Caracas. More to come.

Extensive damage seen in Caracas, Venezuela, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake to the east of the capital.

A fire aboard the freedom variant of the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) sent six sailors to the hospital while pierside at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, FL earlier today. All personnel were treated and released. The cause of the fire is under investigation.