US is 'winning decisively' against Iran in Operation Epic Fury, Hegseth says
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the United States is winning “decisively” against Iran and it will have “complete control” over the country’s airspace in the coming days. He added that an American submarine sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in a first since World War II.
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Iran's foreign minister says US will 'bitterly regret' attack on warship off Sri Lanka's coast
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Thursday said the U.S. will "bitterly regret" striking and sinking an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
"The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran's shores," Araqchi wrote on X. "Frigate Dena, a guest of India's Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning."
"Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set," he added.
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Iran judiciary warns ‘collaborators’ will be treated as enemies amid succession fight
Iran’s judiciary chief warned that anyone who cooperates with “the enemy” during the ongoing conflict will be considered an enemy of the state, signaling a potential internal crackdown as Tehran moves to replace its slain supreme leader.
The warning comes as Iran’s clerical establishment works to select a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and as Israeli officials have openly suggested regime change remains a possibility.
The statement underscores concerns that the leadership transition could be accompanied by intensified security measures inside the country.
Azerbaijan says Iranian drone crashed near airport, injures civilians
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday accused Iran of launching drone attacks from its territory that struck the Nakhchivan region, damaging an airport terminal building and injuring two civilians.
The ministry said one drone hit the terminal building at the Nakhchivan airport, while another fell near a school in the village of Shakarabad.
Azerbaijan “strongly condemns” the attacks and said it has summoned Iran’s ambassador to deliver a formal note of protest.
The government demanded a clear explanation from Tehran and called for an investigation and urgent measures to prevent further attacks, warning it “reserves the right to take appropriate response measures.”
Iran has not acknowledged targeting Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory and borders both Iran and Turkey.
Senior Iranian cleric calls for ‘Trump’s blood’ after US sinks warship
A senior Iranian cleric called for “the shedding of Trump’s blood” Thursday in one of the most explicit threats yet from Iran’s religious establishment following U.S. strikes.
Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli said on state television that Iran is “on the verge of a great test” and urged retaliation against what he described as “oppressive America,” according to reports.
The comments came after the U.S. Navy sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean and as Iranian officials warned Washington would “bitterly regret” the strike.
Israeli defense minister says cooperation between Trump, Netanyahu 'changing history'
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth that the cooperation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in the joint military campaign against Iran is "changing history."
During a call overnight with Hegseth, Katz thanked both Trump and the Pentagon head for their strong support of Israel. He also expressed appreciation to Hegseth for the extensive assistance in defending Israeli civilians against what he called the Iranian missile threat.
"Keep going to the end — we are with you," Hegseth responded.
Katz also expressed his condolences over the deaths of six U.S. soldiers who were killed in the operation and affirmed that Israel is doing everything it can to help protect the safety of U.S. troops in the region.
Fox News' Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this report.
Qatar Airways says it will begin a limited number of relief flights for stranded passengers
Qatar Airways announced Wednesday it is offering a limited number of relief flights to assist stranded passengers amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East following U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran.
The flights will begin on Thursday, with flights from Muscat, Oman, to London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Madrid, Rome and Amsterdam already planned. A flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Frankfurt, Germany, is also scheduled.
Passengers are urged not to travel to the airport unless they have received an official notification from Qatar Airways for these flights. The airline will contact affected passengers directly with their assigned flight details, travel arrangements and next steps.
"Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace," the airline said on X. "Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities."
"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. We apologise for the disruption caused by circumstances beyond our control due to the temporary airspace closure and thank you for your patience," the post added.
CENTCOM says it is 'finding and destroying' Iranian threats with 'lethal precision'
U.S. Central Command on Wednesday said it is continuing to take down Iran's mobile missile launch capabilities and that the threats are being destroyed with "lethal precision."
"The effort to eliminate the Iranian regime's mobile missile launch capabilities continues," CENTCOM wrote on X, along with a clip of a strike on an Iranian target.
"We are finding and destroying these threats with lethal precision," the post continued.
1st Charter flight carrying US citizens leaves Middle East, State Department says
The State Department announced on Wednesday that its first charter flight carrying American citizens left the Middle East and was headed back to the U.S.
"Today, a Department of State charter flight of American citizens departed the Middle East in route to the United States, as part of our ongoing efforts to assist Americans return home," the department said on X.
"Additional flights will be surged across the region," the post continued.
American citizens in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel who are interested in the State Department's charter flight or ground transportation options are urged to complete the Crisis Intake Form or contact the department's 24/7 Task Force.
Gov Abbott alerts Texans to safety resources amid ongoing conflict in Iran
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday notified Texans at home and abroad of safety protocols and resources over the escalating conflict in the Middle East that could pose a threat to American civilians.
The governor said Americans around the world, particularly those located in the Middle East, should follow the guidance in the latest security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
"The safety and well-being of Texans are paramount," Abbott said in a statement. "Now more than ever, Texans must remain vigilant and follow the guidance of U.S. officials as military action continues overseas. The State of Texas is actively coordinating with our federal partners to safeguard Texans abroad and at home from hostile foreign actors."
Abbott's office urged Texans to monitor travel advisories and security alerts issued by the U.S. Department of State and their closest U.S. embassy or consulate, call the Department of State or Texas Fusion Center, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program with a U.S. embassy to receive real-time alerts, maintain contact with family, avoid high risk areas and follow local and federal directives such as shelter in place orders.
Americans should also keep copies of important documents, emergency contact numbers for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and ensure they have a reliable means of communication, the governor's office said.
Congress to vote on DHS funding as Iran-linked homeland security concerns grow
The House and Senate are set to take votes Thursday on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as concerns grow about potential Iran-linked threats inside the United States.
The Senate will hold a procedural vote around 1:45 p.m. on a motion to advance the DHS funding bill.
The same vote failed in February after Democrats declined to provide enough support to clear the 60-vote filibuster threshold, and it is expected to fail again.
Later Thursday afternoon, the House is expected to vote on a separate bill to fund DHS. House GOP leaders expect that measure to pass with Republican support and some Democratic votes.
The votes come as a DHS memo circulated to law enforcement agencies warned of potential cyberattacks or lone-wolf violence following the strikes on Iran.
Congress has been locked in a weeks-long standoff over immigration policy tied to DHS funding.
Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this reporting.
China says it will send special envoy to Middle East to push mediation
China said Wednesday it will send a special envoy to the Middle East to conduct mediation efforts as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement during phone calls with United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to a statement shared by the Chinese Embassy in the United States.
China’s special envoy on Middle East affairs will travel to countries in the region to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the crisis.
Pentagon identifies fifth and sixth soldiers killed in Kuwait attack
The Department of War on Wednesday identified another U.S. service member killed in a drone attack in Kuwait while supporting Operation Epic Fury, and said a second soldier is believed to have also died in the same strike.
Army Reserve Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa, died March 1 at Port Shuaiba during what officials described as an unmanned aircraft system attack. O’Brien was assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command based in Des Moines, Iowa.
O’Brien’s awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device.
In a separate release, the Department of War said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan is believed to have been killed in the same attack.
Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California, was at the scene of the incident and “is believed to be the individual who perished at the scene,” according to a military release. Officials said positive identification will be completed by a medical examiner.
Marzan was also assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command in Des Moines, Iowa. The Pentagon previously confirmed that multiple U.S. service members were killed in the attack. The incident remains under investigation.
CENTCOM releases “100 Hours” video touting Operation Epic Fury progress
U.S. Central Command released a video Wednesday touting the first “100 Hours” of Operation Epic Fury as U.S. and allied forces continue strikes against Iran.In the video, officials describe the campaign as “the most lethal, most complex, and most precise aerial operation in history.”
“Our military in the Middle East is undertaking an unprecedented operation to eliminate Iran’s ability to threaten Americans, as they’ve been doing for nearly half a century,” a narrator says.
“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” another voice says.
“Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
Condoleezza Rice says Iran ‘has been at war with us’ for decades amid conflict
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that Iran has posed a long-standing threat to the United States as the war in the Middle East escalates.
“Iran has been at war with us for at least 47 years, all the way from 1979,” Rice said in an interview with Fox News anchor Bret Baier on "Special Report."
“They took our embassy hostage… They were responsible for the killings of 300 plus Marines in Lebanon,” she added, noting that Iranian-made roadside bombs were responsible for a large share of U.S. casualties in Iraq.
Rice said the current U.S. objective of weakening Iran’s military capabilities is a “worthy goal.”
“If you can render Iran essentially incapable of military action against us and against our allies, that’s worthy,” she said.
Rice also cautioned that the aftermath of the conflict could be complex given Iran’s large population and diverse ethnic groups.
Operation Epic Fury survives Senate challenge as Republicans close ranks behind Trump
Senate Republicans closed ranks Wednesday, handing President Donald Trump a win on his use of force in Iran, despite lingering questions about America’s involvement in the Middle East.
The Senate shot down a resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., aimed at limiting Trump’s military actions in Iran on Wednesday, following days of speculation about whether Republicans would cross the aisle — as they have done before — to reprimand the president.
The administration pushed hard to lobby support for Operation Epic Fury, holding several briefings with Congress to make its case. It appeared to work, at least for now, convincing some Republicans on the fence to back continued military action in Iran.
Only Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted in favor of the resolution, while Sen. Jon Fetterman, D-Pa., was the lone Democrat to cross the aisle in support.
Democrats argued that Trump’s actions were another instance of him disregarding Congress’ authority to use military force, that they lacked a clear strategy going forward and, further, that they were yet another campaign promise he had broken.
"It's time for the president to keep promises, not break them," Kaine said ahead of the vote. "That's why I'm so glad that we're going to put everybody on the record … Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end run around the Constitution."
Democrats also seized on the administration’s refusal to rule out sending U.S. troops into Iran.
"They refuse to take off the table the insertion of ground troops," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., warning the conflict could expand beyond air and naval operations. "This is going to make the operations in Libya look like child’s play."
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who previously supported a resolution to rein in Trump’s war powers in Venezuela, said he would oppose the latest effort.
But like last time, he said a ground operation would require congressional approval.
"I’ve always said that committing ground troops would be something I think would require immediate congressional authorization, but that doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon," Hawley said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that the goalposts kept moving for the administration, which he said was a clear sign that "a strategy is missing."
This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Alex Miller and Morgan Phillips.
Hegseth to visit CENTCOM headquarters for Operation Epic Fury briefing
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will visit U.S. Central Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday for updates on Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon said.
During the visit, Hegseth is expected to meet with CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper to receive the latest operational briefings on the ongoing campaign against Iran.
U.S. and partner forces launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, with the stated goal of dismantling the Iranian regime’s security apparatus and targeting sites posing imminent threats.
According to CENTCOM, the first four days of the operation included more than 2,000 strikes using over 2,000 precision munitions launched from air, land and sea.
CENTCOM blasts Iranian claims of US losses as ‘fake news,’ says strikes expanding
U.S. Central Command on Wednesday dismissed a series of Iranian claims about the conflict as “fake news,” saying the regime is spreading false reports about U.S. losses.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said Iranian officials falsely claimed that U.S. forces were withdrawing from the region, had lost fighter aircraft and a destroyer and that 100 U.S. Marines had been killed.
“ALL LIES,” CENTCOM said.
The command said U.S. forces are instead expanding strikes deeper into Iranian airspace and have already sunk more than 20 Iranian vessels.
CENTCOM also said Iranian drone launches have dropped 73% and ballistic missile launches 86% since the start of the operation.
“U.S. military power projection capability is unmatched,” the command added.
Thousands of Kurds cross from Iraq and launch ground offensive in Iran, US official tells Fox News
Thousands of Kurds have crossed from Iraq and launched a ground offensive in Iran, a U.S. official told Fox News.
Sources tell Fox News many of the fighters are Iranian Kurds who had been living in Iraq for years and are now returning to northwestern Iran as part of the offensive.
The fighters are believed to be Iranian-Kurdish militias seeking to spark a broader uprising against the remnants of Iran’s regime, according to sources familiar with the development.
Earlier Wednesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military is not arming an insurgency inside Iran, though he suggested other parts of the U.S. government could potentially be involved.
At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied reports that the Trump administration has agreed to arm Kurdish forces.
Iraq’s Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani in Erbil said that “not a single Iraqi Kurd has crossed the border.”
Meanwhile, an Israeli official source said on background that Israel is supporting Kurdish militias operating inside the country.
“We are supporting Kurdish militias in Western Iran,” the source said. “The purpose is to try to control areas inside Iran in order to challenge the regime to give strength to a wider uprising.”
Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this reporting.
US strikes kill Iran covert unit leader tied to Trump assassination plot
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the leader of an Iranian covert unit tied to an assassination plot against President Donald Trump was killed during U.S. strikes on Iran.
The official was connected to the same plot at the center of the federal trial of Asif Merchant in New York, according to the administration.
Merchant, a Pakistani national, is accused of working with Tehran to assassinate Trump.
“Also yesterday, the leader of the unit who attempted to assassinate President Trump has been hunted down and killed,” Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing.
“Iran tried to kill President Trump. And President Trump got the last laugh.”
Fox News' Alexis McAdams contributed to this reporting.