"Operation Economic Fury" Bites Iran: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that U.S. financial operations launched in March 2025 have crippled Iran, causing its largest bank to collapse in December 2025 and driving inflation to 180%, leaving Tehran struggling to pay its troops. Bessent and President Trump vowed that the worldwide asset search and naval/economic blockade will not end.
Proposed Land Blockade: The U.S. and Israel are reportedly considering a land blockade against Iran, exploring diplomatic talks with neighboring countries (including Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and Central Asian states) to close border crossings and choke off Tehran's imports and exports.
Strait of Hormuz Ultimatum: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi stated that Iran demands exclusive control over the inbound transit lane and part of the outbound lane of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that if Oman rejects the proposal, the waterway will remain closed and Iran is "ready for war." The Persian Gulf Strait Authority officially declared passage unfeasible.
Pentagon Funding Request: Bloomberg reported the Pentagon is formally requesting an additional $18.2 billion from Congress specifically to purchase critical interceptor missiles for the ongoing conflict.
Kuwait & Iraq Drone Strikes: Kuwait reported being targeted by Iranian drone strikes. Meanwhile, local sources reported a drone attack targeting the Khabat Organization (an Iranian Kurdish opposition group) in Erbil, Iraq.
U.S. Withdrawal from Iraqi Bases: Al-Monitor reported that the U.S. military is nearing the completion of its full withdrawal from Iraq, with remaining forces departing Kurdistan bases (near Erbil) and Patriot air-defense batteries already redeployed elsewhere.
Cyprus IRGC Spy Arrested: A British citizen was arrested and charged in Cyprus with espionage on behalf of the IRGC, accused of conducting surveillance against the British military base RAF Akrotiri.
Syria Backs Saudi Arabia: Syrian President al-Sharaa formally pledged to help Saudi Arabia combat the regional Shia terror axis, condemning Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen. Meanwhile, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned of a full-scale regional escalation against Saudi Arabia and its Western/Israeli allies.
Gaza Disarmament Friction: A high-ranking U.S. official warned that President Trump would be "very disappointed" if Israel blocks his plan to rebuild Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu's office rejected the proposal, arguing it falls short of Israel's total demilitarization requirements.
Taiman Base Mutiny Sentences: The commander of the IDF's Givati Brigade sentenced 14 soldiers who led a mutiny at the Taiman training base to 30 days in prison, discharging them from combat service. Roughly 80 other participating soldiers were assigned a mandatory "values weekend" to reinforce discipline.
Ceuta Border Crisis: Roughly 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, prompting Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez to declare a state of emergency. Spain has since returned about 25,000 to 37,500 migrants under a bilateral agreement. The U.S. State Department and President Trump strongly condemned the situation, while Israel's Danny Danon criticized Spain for lecturing Israel while maintaining colonial enclaves in Africa.
Minnesota Water System Cyberattack: U.S. officials and investigators are leaning toward state-sponsored Iranian actors as the culprits behind a coordinated cyberattack that knocked machinery offline across 30+ Minnesota water systems, though President Trump publicly dismissed the attribution.
