Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday would bring the highest volume of U.S. attacks to date and reiterated claims that the U.S. and Israel have hit about 15,000 targets since Feb. 28.
- Hegseth asserted Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is wounded and likely disfigured after issuing only a written vow to avenge losses and to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.
- CENTCOM confirmed all six crew aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq were killed, saying the loss was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
- Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted after Iranian attacks on vessels, with oil back around $100 a barrel as the U.S. loosens some rules on Russian oil already at sea and the IEA releases reserves.
- Hegseth said there is no clear evidence Iran is laying new mines in Hormuz and claimed Iran’s missile and one‑way drone launches are down sharply, even as Iranian strikes continue across the region.