Israel and U.S. step up attacks against Iran
Israel and the U.S. are stepping up attacks on Iran as the war enters its fifth day. Israeli officials said they launched what they called a new “broad wave” of strikes targeting the country’s leadership and security command centers. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iran’s air force and navy had been “knocked out,” and the U.S. military said it had destroyed 17 Iranian ships and nearly 2,000 targets. Meanwhile, Americans are scrambling to evacuate as the U.S. closes several embassies and reduces diplomatic staff across the Middle East. The State Department told U.S. citizens to use commercial airlines to get out of the area, but commercial airline traffic has been interrupted when airspace is closed because of military activities.
Death toll in U.S. war against Iran
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that at least 1,097 civilians in Iran have been reported killed in the war the U.S. launched against Iran on Saturday including 181 children. An estimated 5,400 civilians have been injured. The Pentagon named four of the six U.S. soldiers killed in the war. They are Capt. Cody Khork, 35; Sgt. Declan Coady, 20; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42. All were assigned to the Army Reserve’s 103rd Sustainment Command out of Iowa and were stationed at a makeshift operations center at Shuaiba port when a projectile broke through air defenses. Donald Trump has warned that more U.S. casualties are likely as the “big wave” of attacks against Iran is yet to come.
Lutnick to testify in congressional Epstein investigation
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to appear before the House Oversight Committee to testify about his relationship with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick’s appearance would set up a clash between congressional Republicans and the Trump administration, which has tried to downplay the commerce secretary’s ties to the late convicted sex offender. A date has not yet been set for Lutnick’s appearance but is expected to be announced soon, a source familiar with the process told CNN. The committee also has asked seven others to appear. They are billionaire Bill Gates; former longtime Bill Clinton adviser Doug Band; billionaire investor Leon Black; the chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs Kathy Ruemmler, who has announced her resignation from the post; billionaire co-founder of Gateway Inc. Ted Waitt; Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff; and another assistant, Sarah Kellen.
Primary results
Voters in three states headed to the polls on Tuesday for the first primary day of the 2026 midterm elections. In Texas — perhaps the most closely watched primary in the country — State Rep. James Talarico won the Democratic Senate race, defeating U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett. On the Republican side, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are headed for a runoff for the Senate nomination. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott won the primary to run on the Republican line for governor. Former North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper won the Democratic nomination to run for Senate from North Carolina. In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders won the Republican primary for governor and will face Democrat Fred Love.
U.S. military is conducting operations in Ecuador
The U.S. military is now conducting operations in Ecuador targeting “designated terrorist organizations” in the Latin American country, the Pentagon has announced. It refused to say how many U.S. soldiers are fighting in the country and did not provide details of what precisely they are doing. The announcement appears to mark an expansion of the administration’s Operation Southern Spear, which has so far killed 151 people in strikes on alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
Preventive Health Services Task Force doesn’t meet
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which helps shape Americans’ preventive care, hasn’t met in a year — raising concerns it may be sidelined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or pushed into what some call “quiet paralysis.” The panel issues key recommendations on cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, counseling and other preventive services. Health experts warn that delaying meetings could stall updates that guide patient care and insurance coverage. Some doctors worry that this could be a sign that HHS plans to dismantle the longtime group altogether, similar to how other federal advisory groups have been restructured.
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