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
Iran warns of retaliatory strikes if US attacks power plants, state media says
The Iranian military said on Sunday that Tehran would seek to retaliate against U.S. energy sites and infrastructure in the Gulf region if Washington moves to strike Iranian power plants, according to Fars News Agency, a semi-official state news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Trump said on Saturday that the U.S. would "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t opened within 48 hours
"If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy infrastructure, as well as information technology (IT) and water desalination facilities, belonging to the U.S. and the regime in the region will be targeted pursuant to previous warnings," said Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces, according to Fars.
Iran's internet blackout enters 23rd day, monitor says
The near-total internet blackout in Iran entered its 23rd day early on Sunday, according to NetBlocks, a web monitoring organization.
"The measure adds to the wartime distress of millions of civilians who lack independent sources of information and alerts," NetBlocks said.
Shell launched into Israel from Lebanon, IDF says
A shell launched from Lebanon into northern Israel resulted in damage, the Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday.
"The incident is under investigation," an IDF spokesperson said. Israel has been targeting infrastructure related to Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in southern Lebanon.
Israel's first responders said two vehicles had caught fire near the border, adding in an update that there appeared to be someone "trapped in a vehicle, showing no signs of life."
Trump threatens to 'hit and obliterate' Iranian power plants if Strait of Hormuz not opened in 48 hours
President Donald Trump said the U.S. will "hit and obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz isn't opened within 48 hours
"If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump said in a post on his social media platform.
The largest power plant in Iran is thought to be the Damavand Combined Cycle Power Plant — which is located in the outskirts of the capital city Tehran.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz -- a narrow waterway off Iran’s southern coast that normally handles about 20% of global oil consumption -- since the start of the war.
Trump's post came as he floated on Friday that he was considering "winding down" the U.S.'s military campaign, claiming the U.S. was "very close to meeting our objectives."
Trump also said Friday that the U.S. would "help" Gulf states secure and police the Strait of Hormuz "if asked."