Month: March 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday defended the expanding U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, describing it as precise, mission-driven and necessary to counter Tehran’s missile capabilities and nuclear ambitions. Standing beside Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the operation is narrowly aimed, and will not become another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

“The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser-focused,” Hegseth said, outlining objectives that include eliminating Iran’s offensive missile systems, crippling missile production, dismantling naval assets and preventing the country from ever obtaining nuclear weapons. He added that U.S. forces are striking “surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically.”

The campaign, launched over the weekend by U.S. and Israeli forces, has already resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with other senior figures. President Donald Trump authorized the operation Friday, approving what officials call “Operation Epic Fury.”

While Trump has suggested the conflict could continue “four weeks or less” — and in another interview estimated four to five weeks — Hegseth declined to commit to a timetable. “President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take,” he said, stressing the military will execute the mission as directed. At the same time, he rejected comparisons to past wars, stating, “This is not Iraq,” and insisting the effort would not be “endless.”

Hegseth confirmed there are currently no U.S. “boots on the ground” in Iran but would not rule out future options. He framed the strikes as retaliation, arguing that Iran’s “stubborn and self-evident nuclear pursuit,” ballistic missile expansion and attacks on global shipping left the U.S. little choice. “We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” he said. “Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatollah and his death cult.”

Despite the killing of Iran’s top leader, Hegseth denied the mission is about regime change. “This is not a so-called regime-change war,” he said, though he added that the outcome has altered Iran’s leadership and “the world is better off for it.”

Gen. Caine detailed the scope of the opening assault: more than 100 aircraft launched in a coordinated wave from land and sea, alongside unmanned systems. U.S. Navy Tomahawk missiles struck first, targeting Iranian naval forces along the country’s southern coast. Cyber operations disrupted communications and air defenses, and B-2 bombers carried out lengthy round-trip missions reminiscent of last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Caine cautioned that the campaign amounts to “major combat operations” and acknowledged the likelihood of further casualties. Four U.S. service members have been killed so far after Iran struck a fortified tactical command center. “We expected to take additional losses,” he said.

The conflict has rapidly widened. Iran and allied forces have launched missile attacks on Israel, U.S. installations and Gulf nations. At least 11 people have been reported killed in Israel, while the Iranian Red Crescent says 555 people have died in Iran. In Kuwait, three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were downed in what Central Command described as a friendly fire incident; all crew members survived. Smoke was also seen rising from the U.S. Embassy there following an apparent missile strike.

As battle damage assessments continue, U.S. officials maintain the operation remains focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities rather than occupying the country. “No nation-building quagmire,” Hegseth said. “We fight to win.”

Editorial credit: Joshua Sukoff / Shutterstock.com

Fighting between the United States, Israel and Iran intensified for a third straight day as American forces continued sweeping strikes inside Iran and Tehran retaliated across the region.

U.S. Central Command said B-1 bombers flew missions overnight, targeting ballistic missile infrastructure. In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the aircraft “struck deep inside Iran to degrade Iranian ballistic missile capabilities,” adding, “As the President stated, ‘we’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.’”

The joint U.S.-Israeli offensive has hit thousands of sites, including military and missile facilities, following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. According to Iran’s Red Crescent, more than 550 people have died in Iran since the campaign began.

Tehran has responded with missile and drone barrages aimed at Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf nations. At least 11 people have been killed in Israel, with additional fatalities reported in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. In Lebanon, the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia launched fresh attacks on Israel, prompting Israeli counterstrikes that Lebanese officials say killed dozens.

The Pentagon originally stated Monday that four U.S. service members have died in the conflict, with 18 others seriously wounded. Officials said the latest fatalities occurred during a strike in Kuwait, with Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine telling reporters the casualties stemmed from an attack on a tactical operations center.

Later on Monday, the U.S. military said the number of Americans killed following the start of Operation Epic Fury now stands at six, following the recovery of the remains of two service members who were previously unaccounted for Two Defense Department personnel were injured during Iran’s retaliatory attack on a hotel in Bahrain over the weekend (per CBS News).

CENTCOM said in a release on X: “As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region. Major combat operations continue. The identities of the fallen are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.” The names of the fallen troops will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification.

In a separate incident, three U.S. F-15 fighter jets were shot down in what the military described as a “friendly fire incident,” though all crew members survived.

President Trump defended the operation during remarks at the White House, calling it essential to eliminate what he described as an escalating missile and nuclear threat. He said Iran’s nuclear program had been obliterated during last year’s U.S. strikes, known as “Operation Midnight Hammer,” but claimed Tehran ignored warnings not to rebuild. “An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East, but also to the American people,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. was “very nearly under threat.”

Trump said the campaign could last four to five weeks but emphasized that the military is prepared to continue longer if required. “Whatever it takes, we will always — and we have right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have the capability to go far longer than that,” he said. Dismissing suggestions he might lose interest, Trump added, “I don’t get bored. There’s nothing boring about this.”

In an interview with the New York Post, Trump declined to rule out deploying U.S. ground forces. “I don’t have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, ‘There will be no boots on the ground.’ I don’t say it,” he said. “I say, ‘probably don’t need them,’ [or] ‘if they were necessary.’”

Meanwhile, Iran’s senior security official, Ali Larijani, rejected diplomatic overtures, declaring, “we will not negotiate with the United States,” despite Trump’s assertion that Iranian officials “are talking.”

Editorial credit: Pierre Laborde / Shutterstock.com

The proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery will have subscribers to Paramount+ and HBO Max seeing those platforms merge into a single direct-to-consumer service.

Paramount CEO David Ellison outlined the plan during a Monday investor call, saying, “As we said, we do plan to put the two services together, which today gives us a little over 200 million direct to consumer subscribers.” He added that the combined scale would strengthen the company’s ability to compete with dominant streaming rivals.

Ellison noted that Paramount is already consolidating Paramount+, Pluto TV and BET+ onto one shared technology platform, with completion expected by mid-2026. He indicated the same strategy would likely apply to HBO Max if the deal closes, emphasizing that expanded content and improved tech capabilities would help the company rival the industry’s largest players.

While the platforms may combine, Ellison stressed that the HBO brand itself would retain creative autonomy under CEO Casey Bloys, whose contract runs through 2027. “Casey and his team do absolutely a remarkable job at HBO,” Ellison said. “Our viewpoint is HBO should stay HBO. They built a phenomenal brand. They are a leader in the space, and we just want them to continue doing more of it. But by bringing the platforms together, all of our content will be able to reach even a broader audience than we can do standalone.” Details about pricing, branding or whether HBO Max would function as a standalone section within the new service have not yet been disclosed.

The merger follows a competitive bidding process. Netflix had previously pursued Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets, but ultimately stepped aside after Paramount increased its offer. Warner Bros. Discovery’s board deemed Paramount’s proposal the superior bid, clearing the path for the planned combination — pending regulatory review.

If approved, the unified platform would immediately rank among the largest streaming services globally, with more than 200 million subscribers, positioning Paramount and HBO to compete more directly with streaming heavyweights.

Editorial credit: nikkimeel / Shutterstock.com

Investigators have identified the man accused of opening fire outside a busy downtown Austin bar early Sunday, killing at least two people and injuring 14 others, in an attack now under federal review for possible terrorism links.

Multiple law enforcement sources named the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal who had lived in the United States for roughly 15 years. Officials say the investigation remains in its early stages and details could change.

According to Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis, officers were dispatched to Buford’s beer garden just before 2 a.m. after reports of gunfire. Preliminary findings indicate the suspect drove an SUV around the block several times before stopping, activating his hazard lights and lowering a window. He then began firing a handgun toward people gathered on the patio and sidewalk. Authorities say he later exited the vehicle with a rifle and continued shooting along West Sixth Street before encountering officers, who shot and killed him. A pistol and rifle were recovered at the scene, and additional weapons were found inside the SUV.

Emergency crews were already stationed in the entertainment district when the call came in. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said first responders arrived within seconds and began treating victims immediately. Three people were reported in critical condition among those hospitalized.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the case through its Joint Terrorism Task Force. Acting Special Agent Alex Doran said there were indicators involving the suspect and his vehicle that suggest a “potential nexus to terrorism,” but cautioned it is too soon to determine motive. Investigators are examining whether the gunman may have self-radicalized, while also considering reports that he had experienced prior mental health episodes in Austin. Officials believe he acted alone and have found no evidence of direct ties to a foreign government.

Sources told investigators the suspect arrived in the U.S. in 2006 and became a citizen in 2013 after spending time in New York before relocating to Pflugerville, Texas. He was reportedly wearing a sweatshirt reading “Property of Allah” during the attack. Federal agents are executing search warrants and reviewing background information, including possible online activity.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced increased security measures statewide, directing additional patrols in downtown Austin and activating members of the Texas Military Department under Operation Fury Shield. He said patrols and surveillance have also been expanded around critical infrastructure. Abbott said: “Texas mourns with the families and loved ones of those who were horrifically killed in last night’s attack in Austin. Cecilia and I pray for them, and we pray for the swift recovery of those who were injured.” He added: “This act of violence will not define us, nor will it shake the resolve of Texans. To anyone who thinks about using the current conflict in the Middle East to threaten Texans or our critical infrastructure, understand this clearly: Texas will respond with decisive and overwhelming force to protect our state.”

Editorial credit: Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB / Shutterstock.com

Three American service members have been killed and five others seriously injured during ongoing military operations against Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.

In a statement posted Sunday, CENTCOM said: “As of 9:30 am ET, March 1, three U.S. service members have been killed in action and five are seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury.” The command added that “Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty,” noting that “Major combat operations continue and our response effort is ongoing.” Officials said the fatalities occurred in Kuwait and that the names of the fallen are being withheld until families are notified. The situation, they emphasized, remains fluid.

The casualties come amid a sweeping joint U.S.-Israeli campaign inside Iran. On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the start of “major combat operations,” describing coordinated daytime strikes on Iranian military and government sites. Among the targets was a compound in Tehran belonging to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television later confirmed that Khamenei was killed in the assault.

Israeli officials said additional senior Iranian figures, including an adviser to Khamenei, also died in the strikes. On Sunday, Israel reported carrying out further attacks “in the heart of Tehran,” while Iran responded with missile and drone launches aimed at Israel, U.S. bases in the region and several Gulf nations.

Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as Israeli defense systems worked to intercept incoming fire. Israeli medics said at least eight people were killed in a strike near Jerusalem. Across the region, the violence has disrupted travel, shaken major population centers and threatened shipping through key oil routes.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned neighboring countries — including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq — that they could become “legitimate targets” if they allow their territory to be used for attacks on Iran. Inside Iran, officials moved quickly to establish a transitional leadership structure. A governing council has been formed while a successor to Khamenei is considered. Ayatollah Ali Reza Arafi was appointed as the jurist member of the interim Leadership Council, joining President Masoud Pezeshkian and judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei in temporarily steering the country.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society reports more than 200 deaths following the U.S. and Israeli strikes. Israeli authorities say 10 people have been killed there since the escalation began, while two deaths were reported in the UAE. In Pakistan, at least nine people died during clashes outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi as protesters attempted to breach the compound.

Speaking Sunday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, President Trump said that “hundreds” of targets have been hit in Operation Epic Fury. The President also acknowledged the losses, saying, “we expect casualties with something like this,” but added that “but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.”  Trump praised the service members who were killed in action and said that there would likely be more military casualties: “As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives. We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen, and sadly, there will likely be more.”

In a separate interview, President Trump told the Daily Mail that he expected the operation “to last about four weeks.”

Editorial credit: FotoField / Shutterstock.com