President Donald Trump insists he's comfortable with the current holding pattern in the Iran war. But the Republican president faces warnings from foes and allies alike that he's getting boxed in on a conflict he sold as a quick military incursion. There's growing concern inside the administration and from key advisers and allies Trump now finds himself in a bind. That's according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the administration's internal deliberations. Trump is buffeted by Democrats looking to seize on surging global oil prices sparked by the war and warnings from hawkish members of his base that an early exit from the conflict would amount to capitulation.
By BASSEM MROUE, JON GAMBRELL and SAM METZ Associated Press
Hezbollah has rejected the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government and demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal. Thursday's announcement came as local authorities said Israeli strikes killed at least four people. A U.N. peacekeeper was also killed in the crossfire. Hezbollah's leader said the agreement's demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Lebanon under fire would mean surrender and defeat. The ongoing fighting in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have seized large swaths of the south, threatens efforts to end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Kuwait says Iranian drones have heavily damaged a passenger terminal at its main, killing one person, wounding dozens and briefly closing the airfield. The reported strike Wednesday is the latest in back-and-forth attacks by Iran and the U.S. that test a fragile ceasefire. Iran denies damaging the airport. The U.S. military says Iran also fired missiles at Kuwait, but they fell apart en route. The U.S. also says it downed drones targeting American forces. The strike reinforced the risks to residents and travelers in Gulf countries that had considered themselves relative havens before the war, now in its fourth month.
By JON GAMBRELL, SAMY MAGDY and NASSER KARIMI Associated Press
Iran stopped communicating with mediators after Israel threatened to bomb Beirut as it fights the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. That's according to two semiofficial Iranian news agencies, but U.S. President Donald Trump is disputing the claim and says talks are continuing. The reports on Tuesday by the Fars and Tasnim news agencies come as Iran insists the fighting in Lebanon is part of the wider ceasefire talks with the United States over the war. Israel and the U.S. maintain the fighting in Lebanon is separate from the Iran war talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is pressing the United States for more Patriot air defense missiles to counter Russian attacks. He sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress earlier this week but hasn't received a reply. Zelenskyy is eager to secure foreign weaponry as Ukraine battles Russia's full-scale invasion. Zelenskyy said Thursday during a visit to Sweden that Ukraine has plans to buy 20 Gripen fighter jets and receive 16 older models as a donation. Ukrainian drones are also playing a crucial role in limiting Russian advances by targeting supply routes and front-line positions.
U.S. military contractors will need at least three years to replenish stockpiles of three key weapons systems used in the Iran war. That's according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The findings released Wednesday by the Washington think tank add to concerns American forces would have limited firepower in any future conflict with China. The weapons are Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot and THAAD interceptors that defend against incoming missiles and drones. President Donald Trump's Republican administration is ramping up defense spending and manufacturing. But it could still take years to rebuild inventories because contractors aren't used to producing the advanced weapons on such a large scale.
Ukraine's air force says Russia launched over 100 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight. The attacks follow Russia's warning to foreign citizens and diplomats on Monday to leave Kyiv, citing its planned "systemic strikes" on the Ukrainian capital. Despite the threats, the European Union and other delegations say they will stay. Ukraine's foreign ministry says the security threat level remains unchanged. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy highlights a shortage of air defense missiles, partly due to the Iran war. Analysts suggest Russia's warnings aim to distract from its military struggles and economic issues caused by the ongoing conflict.
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, EMMA BURROWS, BEN FINLEY and CLAUDIA CIOBANU Associated Press
The Pentagon is drawing down thousands of troops in Europe by stopping units from deploying to Poland and Germany as opposed to yanking those already stationed there. Several U.S. officials confirmed that 4,000 troops from an Army brigade are no longer en route to Poland this week. The Trump administration had previously said it was cutting U.S. forces only in Germany. The deployment was canceled after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo directing a brigade combat team to be moved out of Europe. That's according to two U.S. officials. One of them said the choice of which unit was left to military leaders. The memo also led to the cancellation of an upcoming deployment to Germany.
By ADAM SCHRECK, DAVID MCHUGH and RUSS BYNUM Associated Press
Iran has created a government agency to control and tax vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. That's according to the shipping data company Lloyd's List Intelligence, which reported the move Thursday. The Iranian effort to formalize control over the channel raised new concerns about international shipping as hundreds of commercial ships remained bottled up in the Persian Gulf, unable to reach the open sea. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said officials in Tehran are still reviewing messages from Pakistan, which is mediating peace proposals between the Islamic Republic with the U.S.
Ukrainian authorities say Russian drone and missile strikes during the night and into daylight hours Tuesday killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 80 others. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday criticized Moscow for launching the attacks after Russia announced a temporary unilateral ceasefire for later this week. Russia's Defense Ministry declared a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday. But it warned of retaliation if Kyiv disrupts Victory Day festivities. Ukrainian forces have also continued their attacks on Russian areas by targeting oil facilities. Russia said that it destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones overnight across 18 regions. Both sides remain deeply mistrustful of each other which is complicating ceasefire efforts.
