US strikes Iran in retaliation for Apache shoot-down

US strikes Iran in retaliation for Apache shoot-down U.S. Central Command says it carried out a series of airstrikes on Iranian targets on Tuesday after the shoot-down of an Apache helicopter. President Donald Trump defended the renewed attacks as a necessary and "powerful" reminder for Iranian leaders. Coverage for this event has ended. This liveblog's coverage of the war in Iran has ended Fox News' coverage of the war in Iran will continue on Thursday's liveblog. India says 3 mariners killed on tanker targeted during US Iran blockade enforcement India's shipping minister said Thursday that three Indian seafarers aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello have been confirmed dead after initially being reported missing following a U.S. military operation tied to enforcement of Washington's blockade on Iran. "It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello," Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal wrote on X. "Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified." Sonowal called the deaths "a profound loss to our maritime family" and said the Indian government is working to repatriate surviving crew members and return the bodies of the deceased to their families. U.S. Central Command previously accused the Settebello of attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of the blockade and said American forces fired into the vessel's engine room to stop it. US Embassy in Jordan warns of missiles, drones in airspace The U.S. Embassy in Jordan issued an alert late Wednesday warning that missiles, drones or rockets had been reported in Jordanian airspace. “Reports indicate missiles, drones, or rockets are in Jordanian airspace,” the embassy said in a statement. “Seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately,” the statement continued. “Remain indoors and pay attention to local announcements and alerts.” The Associated Press reported that Iran launched strikes toward Jordan on Wednesday. The warning came hours after the U.S. military said it had conducted strikes against Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communications systems and air defense sites across Iran. Kuwait closes airspace amid ongoing Iranian attacks Kuwait announced Wednesday that it had closed its airspace amid ongoing Iranian attacks across the region. The Associated Press reported that flights were being diverted to alternative airports following the closure. Earlier Wednesday, Kuwait's military said its air defense systems were intercepting hostile aerial targets and urged the public to follow security and safety instructions issued by government authorities. Kellogg urges US to ‘finish the job’ in Iran after military strikes Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg urged the United States to “finish the job” in Iran following a series of military strikes earlier Wednesday. In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Kellogg cautioned against a prolonged conflict while arguing that the U.S. should apply overwhelming force to bring the crisis to a conclusion. “I would reach a point right now, Sean, of saying, ‘We're just done with you guys. We're gonna go in, we're gonna finish the job,’” Kellogg said. “Having a protracted war is not the American way of war,” he continued. “It's a war we've been conditioned to in the last few decades, where we’ve done things in Afghanistan and Iraq. We ought to go back to the way we did it in World War II and World War I and just finish the job.” Kellogg went on to argue that the United States should “obliterate” its adversaries' ability to continue fighting and force them back to the negotiating table. “When you need to come to the table, you want to talk to us, you've got our phone number,” he said. “Right now, we're playing their game, not our game. Let's play our game and force them to come to us.” Kellogg's comments came after U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that American forces struck multiple targets inside Iran, including air defense systems, surveillance radar sites and command-and-control nodes. President Donald Trump told Fox News that the United States is prepared to rapidly escalate military action if Tehran does not soon agree to terms aimed at ending the ongoing crisis. Kuwait intercepts hostile aerial targets amid Iran tensions Kuwait's military said Wednesday that its air defense systems were intercepting hostile aerial targets. The military urged residents to follow security and safety guidance issued by official authorities. The announcement came after Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted the region Tuesday and into Wednesday. Iranian commander threatens ‘hell’ if Strait of Hormuz is destabilized A commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened a sweeping response if the Strait of Hormuz were destabilized, according to The Times of Israel. Brig. Gen. Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, warned that Iran would retaliate across the region if the strategic waterway became unsafe. IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brig. Gen. Majid Mousavi warned that Iran would retaliate across the region if the strategic waterway became unsafe. “We will bring the region into hell for you from across Iran if you make the sacred Strait of Hormuz unsafe,” Mousavi was quoted as saying by Iranian state media, according to The Times of Israel. The warning came after U.S. officials dismissed Iranian claims that Tehran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying commercial shipping traffic continued to move through the vital waterway US strikes Iranian air defenses, surveillance and communications sites: CENTCOM U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday that the U.S. military struck multiple targets in Iran, including military surveillance capabilities, communications systems and air defense sites. “U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” CENTCOM said in a statement. The agency said the “self-defense strikes” were in response to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.” “U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready,” CENTCOM said. Iran claims attack on US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain as ally activates alarm sirens Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed Wednesday that it had attacked the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, following a fresh wave of U.S. airstrikes on Tehran, according to The Times of Israel. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement that the country has activated its alarm sirens, urging residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location. “The warmongering US regime attacked several points in Jask, Sirik and Qeshm early this morning under false pretexts, damaging a telecommunications mast in Sirik and destroying two water tanks in the city,” the IRGC said in a statement quoted by Iranian media, as reported by The Times. Trump reveals top Iranian officials called him directly, asking US to stop bombing President Donald Trump on Wednesday revealed that top Iranian officials had called him directly to request a halt to U.S. bombing attacks, according to Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. The exchange, which marks a rare and critical moment of direct engagement between Trump and Tehran leadership, came as the president said Washington had delivered “vicious” and “violent” strikes earlier in the day. The president also told Fox News the U.S. operation involved the deployment of 49 Tomahawk missiles alongside fighter jets targeting radar and air defense systems. The strikes reportedly hammered positions about 40 miles outside Tehran and along Iran’s southwestern coast on the Persian Gulf. Trump warned that the United States is prepared to rapidly escalate military action if Tehran does not soon sign an agreement to end the ongoing crisis. “We'll bomb the S— out of them tomorrow,” Trump warned. Fox News' Trey Yingst contributed to this report. US says Iran fabricated claim it attacked American warship in Strait of Hormuz Iranian media falsely claimed that Tehran's forces had attacked an American warship in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday. “TRUTH: No U.S. warships have been struck,” CENTCOM said in a post on X. Tehran had earlier claimed that Iranian and U.S. maritime forces engaged in a confrontation at sea, a claim U.S. officials also denied. US rejects Iran's claim that Strait of Hormuz is closed as ships continue to pass U.S. officials on Wednesday dismissed Iran's claims that Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying commercial traffic continues to move through the strategic waterway. “Commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X. The response came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly announced plans to close the passage following the latest round of U.S. airstrikes. According to Reuters, Iran's top joint military command said oil tankers and commercial vessels would not be allowed to pass through the strait and warned that any ship attempting to do so would be targeted. Reuters contributed to this report. US airstrikes on Iran continue, officials dismiss Tehran's naval clash claims U.S. officials told Fox News on Wednesday that airstrikes against Iranian targets remain ongoing and dismissed Tehran's claims that American and Iranian maritime forces had clashed at sea. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the U.S. Navy did not engage in any skirmishes with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), Iran’s primary maritime force operating in the Strait of Hormuz. The denial came as the U.S. military launched a fresh round of attacks against Iranian targets, marking a second consecutive night of airstrikes following the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter earlier in the week. Fox News' Jen Griffin contributed to this report. Hundreds rally in Lebanon's Hezbollah stronghold to back Iranian regime Hundreds of people gathered in Lebanon on Wednesday evening for a rally supporting the Iranian regime and its proxy terrorist group, Hezbollah. The demonstration, which served as a protest against the United States and Israel, erupted in Dahiyeh — a southern suburb of Beirut that is widely considered a Hezbollah stronghold, AFP correspondents reported, according to The Times of Israel. Photos from the scene showed attendees waving numerous Hezbollah flags and holding portraits of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah. The event came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Lebanese people to join Israel’s fight against Hezbollah and its Iranian backers. Britain introduces sweeping new powers to target foreign state-linked groups including Iran's IRGC Britain is moving to give authorities sweeping new powers to target foreign state-linked groups as officials warn of growing threats tied to Iran and other hostile governments. The National Security (State Threats) Bill introduced Tuesday would give the UK government new powers to crack down on foreign state-linked organizations involved in activities such as assassination plots, surveillance and sabotage. The legislation could potentially be used against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG), though officials have not indicated whether the group would be among the first organizations designated. The proposal comes as British intelligence officials warn of increasing Iran-backed activity inside the UK. Last year, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum said the security service had tracked more than 20 potentially lethal Iran-backed plots and recorded a 35% increase in state-threat investigations. Under the legislation, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood would have the authority to designate groups responsible for what the government calls "foreign power threat activity." Supporting designated organizations or accepting money from them could carry prison sentences of up to 14 years. British authorities have also investigated possible Iranian links to several recent incidents, including arson attacks targeting Jewish sites. The UK has separately secured convictions against individuals accused of spying for or acting on behalf of Russian and Chinese entities. The bill would create a new framework for tackling threats posed by foreign governments and their proxies, an area critics say Britain's existing counterterrorism laws were not designed to address. This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Brittany Miller. Hegseth says US will set terms of any Iran deal from position of strength as new strikes loom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said his department is well prepared to dictate the terms of any potential resolution or peace deal with Iran from a position of strength, as he announced plans