State Department tells Americans worldwide to 'exercise increased caution'
The war entered its fourth week on Saturday.
President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran on the first day of strikes and his son Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen to succeed him. Iran is responding with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Iran is also attempting to block some shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
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Key Headlines
- Strait of Hormuz 'is not closed,' Iranian foreign minister says
- Iran says Strait of Hormuz open to all except 'enemies,' state media, Iranian president say
- 'Iran endangers the entire world,' Netanyahu says
- Iran warns of retaliatory strikes if US attacks power plants, state media says
- Trump threatens to 'hit and obliterate' Iranian power plants if Strait of Hormuz not opened in 48 hours
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted 4 missiles over Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry said it intercepted four Iranian ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh, and that debris from the interception fell "in scattered areas of the capital."
The ministry says there was no damage or injuries detected so far.
6 airmen to be transferred at Dover Wednesday
Six airmen who were killed in a KC-135 crash last week will be transferred back to the U.S. for the final time at Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday, according to a White House official.
The airmen were identified by the Pentagon over the weekend as Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, — assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida — and Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio — assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.
Gabbard says Iranian regime is intact
Iran’s regime is “largely degraded” but “appears to be intact,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday.
Gabbard noted that although Iran can attack the U.S. and allies in the Middle East, it will take years to rebuild its missile program.
“The regime in Iran appears to be intact but largely degraded due to attacks on its leadership and military capabilities,” Gabbard said. “Its conventional military power projection capabilities have largely been destroyed, leaving limited options. Iran's strategic position has been significantly degraded.”
“Its regional power projection capabilities have been destroyed, leaving limited options," Gabbard said.
She also warned that while “internal tensions are likely to increase” inside Iran as its “economy worsens.” And, the director said, if “hostile regime survives it will likely seek to begin a year's long effort to rebuild its military, missiles and UAV [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] forces."
Fire from strikes on Iran refineries contained, damaged phases shut down, local governor says
The fire caused by Israeli strikes on the gas refineries in Iran is contained, the governor of Asaluyeh, Iran, said Wednesday, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
"To prevent the fire from spreading, the damaged phases were taken out of production," the governor said, adding that the remaining fire and smoke are caused by residual gases in the pipes and will extinguish automatically once the gases have fully cleared.