U.S. President Donald J. Trump boarded Air Force One just earlier to leave for Ankara, Turkey for the much anticipated NATO summit. In the weeks and days working up to the summit, European leaders, have been keen to highlight new defense commitments and financing frameworks, as President Trump has long pushed the NATO alliance to increase burdensharing and defense spending. Most recently, today, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, and Poland announced a new Multilateral Defense Mechanism that is meant to “accelerate defense investment, stimulate joint procurement, and aggregate demand in critical defence capabilities, with the ultimate objective of meeting the military needs of like-minded allies.”

The U.S. Men’s Soccer National Team is now out of the World Cup after losing to Belgium 1-4.

Several explosive devices detonated this morning in the Syrian capital of Damascus, close to the Four Season Hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron is currently staying, resulting in injuries to at least 18 people though no fatalities, according to Syria’s Interior Ministry. Macron was not present at the hotel when the blasts occurred, instead being at the Presidential Palace for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The Boeing VC-25B Bridge, Air Force One, carrying President Donald J. Trump has landed in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of this week’s NATO Summit.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has deplaned from Air Force One in Ankara, being personally met by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a large delegation of military personnel, before being walked to The Beast, part of the Presidential Motorcade.

Following twin blasts in Damascus, Syria, that Syrian officials say likely targeted the security boundaries near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying, President Macron has said that his visit to the nation, the first for a Western leader, will continue.

During a press availability with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said that he’s “not worried” about the existence of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems in Turkey, as it relates to the possibility of a U.S. FMS of F-35s to Turkey. When asked about reports that said systems could be sent to a third party nation before such an FMS took place, President Trump appeared to be unaware of the potential framework, saying “in relation to what,” when asked about the reports.

Despite recent reports that Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is “brain dead,” after being hospitalized weeks ago and not seen or heard from since, CNN contributor Scott Jennings has now claimed to have spoke with the senator this morning. Jennings doubled down on many people’s characterization of his condition, by saying that he “He’s still recovering in the hospital.” Per Jennings, he spoke on a number of current issues, both domestic and international, with McConnell.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that forces have begun a “series of powerful strikes” against Iran, in response to recent attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Multiple explosions in the last few minutes on Qeshm Island in Southern Iran.

Explosions from U.S. retaliatory strikes also heard in Sirik and Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province of Southern Iran.

Several fast boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) were reportedly targeted at the Port of Sirik, in the Hormozgan Province of Southern Iran.

Fires seen burning at the Port of Shahid Haqqani in Bandar Abbas, Southern Iran, following tonight’s wave of retaliatory strikes against Iranian military and infrastructure sites by the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the U.S. strikes across Southern Iran, saying that it is a violation of the U.S.-Iran MOU, despite Iran first targeting three tankers as they transited the Strait of Hormuz, a violation in and of itself. Per the release, Iran “holds the U.S. government responsible” for their expected response, which will likely be a resumption of Iranian strikes on U.S. bases and infrastructure in neighboring Gulf countries.

According to @BarakRavid, citing a U.S. official, today’s strikes in Iran, that targeted air defense sites, surface-to-air missiles, coastal surveillance systems, drone launch sites, port facilities, and anti-ship cruise missile installations, were scaled up ‘four or five’ times, in relation to past U.S. responses to Iranian MOU violations.

As reports of additional U.S. strikes against Iranian targets abound, CNN has been told by a U.S. official that these strikes are “punishment, not proportional,” and that said strikes will not be as quick-ending as past U.S. retaliatory strikes in response to Iranian provocations. Retaliatory Iranian strikes on Gulf countries are now expected in the coming hours and days.

This is the current visible military air picture over the Middle East as U.S. strikes against Iranian targets continue in response to the attacks on four commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Visible at this hour are at least 12 U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft, 4 KC-135R "Stratotankers" and 8 KC-46A "Pegasus", along with a U.S. Navy P-8A "Poseidon" maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.

Also active are two multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft operated by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting continued regional support for coalition air operations.