The Kuwaiti Army is responding to yet another incoming Iranian drone and missile attack.

Purported video showing U.S. Patriot air defense interceptors being launched during an Iranian missile and drone attack on Bahrain earlier tonight.

As the United States and Iran continue exchanging strikes tonight, including reported U.S. strikes on multiple bridges near Bandar Abbas and Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. assets in Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait, the current aerial picture over the region, based on aircraft visible via FlightRadar24, includes a U.S. Navy P-8A "Poseidon", multiple U.S. Air Force KC-135 "Stratotankers" and KC-46A "Pegasus" aerial refueling aircraft, as well as an unidentified U.S. Air Force aircraft orbiting over the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This represents only a portion of the overall air picture, as many military aircraft are not visible on public flight-tracking services. Additional U.S. military aircraft are almost certainly operating throughout the region.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that at 9:40 p.m. ET, U.S. forces completed their latest major wave of strikes against Iran, marking the sixth consecutive night of operations aimed at degrading Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the region.

According to CENTCOM, U.S. fighters, unmanned aircraft, and warships employed precision-guided munitions to strike Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities.

After reportedly being targeted earlier this week during U.S. airstrikes on Iran's Chabahar maritime control tower, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has released an image showing the structure collapsing during today's latest wave of strikes.

Based on the duration and scope of today's operations, this appears to have been the most extensive and intense day of the renewed U.S. air campaign against Iran.

Iranian state media outlet IRNA is claiming that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out a surprise attack on a U.S. Special Operations compound in the al-Tanf area of Syria, alleging that several helicopters and a radar system were destroyed and that "a large number of Americans" were killed or wounded.

If confirmed, it would mark the first known Iranian attack on U.S. forces in Syria during the current war.

It should be noted that IRNA serves as a state media outlet for the Iranian government, and casualty and battle damage claims made by Iranian state media and the IRGC have frequently proven to be exaggerated or inaccurate during past conflicts.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO) has issued a warning after receiving a report of an attack on a commercial tanker approximately 19NM east of Khasab, Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the report, the vessel was struck on its port (left) side by an unknown projectile, causing minor structural damage.

The vessel's direction of travel was not disclosed. However, if it was outbound through the Strait of Hormuz, the port side would have been facing Iran.

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) say they struck 12 additional Russian vessels overnight in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, including nine cargo ships, an oil tanker, a gas tanker, and a tugboat.

According to the USF, 159 vessels have now been targeted over the past 12 days as part of its campaign against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," which Ukraine says is intended to disrupt sanctions evasion, military logistics, and Russia's war economy.

Following the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' claim that it targeted the U.S. special operations compound at al-Tanf Garrison in Syria overnight, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied the report, stating that no U.S. personnel in the region were killed or captured.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed the destruction of the surveillance tower at Chabahar Port, stating it was being used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to monitor and target vessels transiting the region.

Yesterday’s national address by U.S. President Donald J. Trump was centered on alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 elections and the U.S. intelligence community’s (IC) alleged obfuscation of key intelligence products that pointed to Chinese involvement. According to President Trump, citing heavily redacted declassified intelligence products (entire tranche not included below), the IC was complicit in withholding information from disseminated Presidential Daily Briefings that pointed to Chinese attempts to steal voter data during the 2020 election cycle.
This story will be updated as more information comes out.

According to a report from CBS, citing a number of U.S. officials, U.S. military decision-makers are continuing to plan for the possibility of military escalation with Cuba should diplomatic efforts fail to merit the desired results. Per the reports, last month, a concept of operations (CONOP) briefing was held where the possibility of using the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division in an air assault was discussed. However, given escalation in the Middle East with Iran, and the reposed key offensive assets to that theater of competition. U.S. officials told CBS that such an operation is not likely at this time.

According to Axios, citing both U.S. and Israeli official, the U.S. has asked Israel to receive ‘dozens’ of additional refueling aircraft to Ben Gurion Airport in preparation for a potential significantly expanded strike campaign on Iran. However, as reported before, some Israeli decision-makers have advised against such a move, as the airport has suffered from the congestion added by the 30 some-odd refueling aircraft already at the airport. In addition to this, it is understood that Iran may directly strike Israel, should an expanded campaign utilize even more U.S. resources based in Israel, a move that would almost certainly prompt Israel to retaliate with widespread direct strikes on Iran.

Renewed U.S. strikes are likely underway, as explosions have now been reported in Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas. We’ll likely see strikes in other key areas, such as Sirik, Qeshm, Chabahar, and other areas adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC is now claiming that they shot down a U.S. RQ-11 small-UAS system in the Ramshir area of Khuzestan Province, Iran. However, given Iraq’s known use of the system for short-range reconnaissance missions and the distance from the closest alleged U.S. military presence on Bubiyan Island, Kuwait, at the time of writing, it’s yet unclear whether or not it was a U.S. system that was shot down. It’s important to remember that barring a not yet publicly declared deployment of U.S. forces to Southern Iraq, U.S. forces remain sequestered far to the north in Iraqi Kurdistan.

According to a release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the 7th consecutive round of U.S. strikes against Iran has begun, as CENTCOM has also said that at the time of writing, 4 vessels have been redirected, 1 vessel has been subjected to disabling fire to ensure compliance, and 1 vessel has been boarded during the renewed U.S. blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iran.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the “experimental explosion” yesterday off coast of Ponce Inlet, Florida, measured at a magnitude of 3.9, with a spokesman for the U.S. Navy reporting that the explosion was the first of two scheduled test events for Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST) as part of the certification process for the Future USS Ted Stevens (DDG-128) under the DDG 51 Flight III Program.

Two U.S. Forest Service employees who were taken hostage Wednesday near Gumboot Lake in California's Shasta-Trinity National Forest have been safely rescued.

The FBI's Hostage Rescue Team responded to the scene yesterday, securing the release of both hostages early this morning before the suspects surrendered several hours later.

In a statement, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz thanked Forest Service law enforcement, the FBI, the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, and other first responders for their coordinated efforts in bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.

According to CBS, citing U.S. officials, Iranian attacks against bases in Jordan, likely Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and King Faisal Air Base, resulted in the injury of several U.S. servicemembers, with no fatalities being reported at the time of writing.