Lebanon's army accuses Israel of firing near troops in 'pilot zone'

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US launches 11th straight night of strikes on Iran

US Central Command said on Tuesday it had begun striking military targets in Iran for the "11th consecutive night", as attacks in the Middle East war intensified.

"The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM said in a post on X, adding that the strikes began at 2300 GMT.

US military identifies 3rd service member believed killed in Iranian attack in Jordan

The US military has confirmed that a third service member is believed to be dead in Friday’s attack on a base in Jordan and identified them as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York.

On Monday, the Pentagon identified 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, as the two other soldiers who were killed in Jordan in Friday’s attacks.

The soldiers were killed by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in the first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. They were deployed to support a US mission against the Islamic State group, a US Central Command statement said.

After the attack, US Central Command announced that two service members were killed and another was missing. The following day, the military command said that troops found unidentified remains and that an examination process to verify the remains was under way.

Now, the Pentagon says that Rampersad is believed to be that missing soldier and her official status is now “Duty Status – Whereabouts Unknown” and she is “believed to be deceased.”

Iran warns US against strikes on nuclear sites

Iran's top joint military command said it would target the interests of the US and its allies if the US targeted Iranian nuclear sites, Iran's state media reported on Tuesday.

The statement by Iran's Khatem al-Anbiya Central Headquarters came after US President Donald Trump said the US would be hitting the Pickaxe Mountain area "pretty soon".

Trump-Aoun 'meeting couldn't have gone any better'

the broadcaster's François Picard is pleased to welcome Bilal Saab, Senior Managing Director of the Trends Research Group and a close friend of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Mr. Saab offers a cautiously optimistic assessment of a pivotal moment in Lebanese diplomacy, arguing that President Aoun's visit to Washington represents an important opportunity to consolidate international backing for Lebanon's sovereignty and state institutions.

Aoun-Trump meeting a 'slap in the face' for Netanyahu?

US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to help Lebanon "a lot" as its President Joseph Aoun sought Washington's backing for a fragile effort to disarm Hezbollah and forge a path to peace with Israel. Reporting from Jerusalem, the broadcaster's Noga Tarnopolsky explains how the meeting between Aoun and Trump reprents "a slap in the face" for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Aoun insisted on 'full Israeli withdrawal' in Trump talks

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed the need for Israel to pull its troops from his country during his meeting on Tuesday with US counterpart Donald Trump, the presidency said in a statement.

"President Aoun stressed the urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, emphasising that this constitutes a fundamental step to consolidate stability, enable the Lebanese state to extend its full sovereignty, solely through its own forces, and move forward in implementing the joint tripartite framework," the statement said, referring to a US-brokered agreement between Lebanon and Israel last month.

Hegseth estimates cost of Iran war at $37.5 billion

The United ​States' war in Iran ​has cost $37.5 billion so far, US Defense Secretary ​Pete Hegseth ‌said ⁠on Tuesday, an increase ‌of nearly $8 billion since the last ⁠public estimate.

Hegseth told lawmakers that the ​figure also included anticipated ‌costs through September 30.

This is the first ‌time that Hegseth has publicly ​faced questions from lawmakers since the US military re-started operations against Iran ⁠earlier this month.

Iraq to allow imports of gas oil to secure needs of energy sector, cabinet says

⁠The ​Iraqi ​cabinet approved on Tuesday ​allowing ‌state ⁠oil ‌marketer SOMO ⁠to import gas ​oil ‌for the energy ministry ‌to "secure ​energy sector needs", according to ​a ​statement.

Trump authorises resumption of direct US flights to Lebanon

Trump ​on Tuesday said he ​was ‌directing ⁠his ‌administration to ⁠allow all ​US airline carriers ‌to fly ‌directly ​to Lebanon following a ​meeting ​with Lebanese ​President Joseph ​Aoun.

Israeli military says its forces only fired 'warning shots into the air' near pilot zone

The Israeli military said it had only fired "warning shots into the air" after Lebanese soldiers entered an area that was "not part of the pilot area", and that no injuries were reported.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces questions from senators over Iran war funding

Hegseth is set to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee days after the Pentagon announced that three more American service members have died in the conflict, bringing the death toll to 17, and that more than 100 have been injured since early July.

"This war is now spiraling out of control again,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the panel, who warned the conflict with Iran “could be another forever war.”

Trump “has told us over 40 times now that a deal is near, and the war will be over soon,” Murray said. "But now, he’s asking for $70 billion more — and for us to just trust him it’ll all work out fine.”

Ahead of the hearing, the White House issued a statement of administration policy urging support of the budget resolution “without modification — immediately.”

War funding makes up the bulk of the GOP's new budget proposal, one last priority package the Republicans hope to launch before lawmakers recess to campaign for the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. 

Iraq's Erbil airport resumes flights

Lebanon's Aoun expresses 'deep appreciation' for US support after Trump talks

Aoun on Tuesday expressed gratitude for the United States' support of his country following his meeting in Washington with counterpart Trump at the White House.

In a statement, the presidency said Aoun wrote in the White House guest book that he felt "deep appreciation for President Trump's friendship and for the support the United States of America provides to Lebanon, its sovereignty, its legitimate institutions, and the Lebanese Armed Forces".

Iraq's Erbil airport suspends flights, Iraqi state news agency reports

Three drones shot down near US consulate in Iraq's Erbil, security sources say

Iran shoots down a drone in northwest of country, army says

Lebanon's Joseph Aoun and US's Donald Trump hold press conference

Watch the full press conference below:

Trump says US 'not finished at all' with Iran

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States will continue attacks on Iran, while forecasting it would take the country more than 20 years to rebuild from current damage.

"If we left right now, it would take Iran 20, 25 years to rebuild. Okay, and we're not finished at all...we're not leaving right now," he told reporters during a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanon's president urges Trump to 'keep supporting' its army

Aoun urged Trump to maintain American support for his country's military, warning that southern Lebanon could see a return of the chaos of the 1970s without Washington's backing.

"We don't want to see that back again. All we're asking is, keep supporting the LAF," Aoun told reporters of the Lebanese Armed Forces during a White House meeting with Trump on Tuesday.

"All we're asking is, keep supporting the LAF... I fully trust the LAF. I fully trust the leadership of the LAF."