Watch Live: Hegseth and Caine update on Iran war as Trump touches on Israel, Lebanon talks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a senior US military official held a press conference on the issue. war with Iran early Thursday.
Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has spoken to reporters several times since President Trump launched “Operation Epic Fury” in late February.
Thursday’s briefing comes as House Democrats step up their pressure against the war, we present the articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Wednesday on allegations that he “showed willful contempt for the Constitution, abused the power of his office, and acted in a manner inconsistent with the law” in the war. The resolution is likely dead on arrival as Republicans control the House, but it could come back if Democrats take over next year.
Mr. Trump posted on social media late Wednesday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak on Thursday. Israel continued to strike Hezbollah targets. Both the US and Israel have insisted that Lebanon is not part of the difficult two-week resolution that began on April 8.
“Trying to find a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon. It has been a long time since the two leaders spoke, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Good! President DJT “Mr. Trump wrote on Public Truth.
Lebanese and Israeli officials met Tuesday in Washington, DC, for their first direct talks in decades, and both sides agreed to hold more talks, although Hezbollah has rejected talks.
Mr. Trump late Wednesday told Fox News that the conflict was “very close” as he and the Pakistani leader suggested a new round US-Iran peace talks may be drawing to a close.
Although there is still direct hostility between Iran and the US and Israel, the two sides are pressuring each other over maritime traffic. Iran has sought to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz and limit the flow of the waterway, which often carries a fifth of the world’s oil, leading Mr.
US Central Command he says the military is “ready to ensure compliance,” including boarding and interdicting ships, and 10 ships that attempted to evade the blockade obeyed orders turning so far. Blockade i used in the Gulf of Omanimmediately outside the Strait of Hormuz, a US official told CBS News.
In response, Iranian officials have publicly threatened the sink American ships have also stopped moving through the second major waterway, the Red Sea. Meanwhile, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has remained below pre-war levels since the ceasefire began.
Thursday’s news conference comes just eight days after a two-week standoff that led to the start of talks to end the war. Iran and US negotiators failed to reach an agreement during talks in Pakistan last weekend, with major disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program, but Mr. there may be another round of lectures over the next few days.
A senior U.S. official told CBS News on Wednesday that the country “has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire,” but the official said talks are ongoing. Iran has also agreed to indirect talks. Pakistan has done it we were pressed to negotiate.
It is unclear what will happen if the ceasefire expires. Hours after the break began last week, Hegseth said the military was “ready to restart at a moment’s notice.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu too said Wednesday his country is willing to continue fighting if necessary. But Mr. Trump expressed optimism, said Tuesday the war is “very close to the end.”
Another factor that makes it difficult is Israel’s continued airstrikes against Hezbollah and its occupation of a large area in southern Lebanon to attack the Iranian-backed militant group. More than 2,100 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Healthwhich does not distinguish between civilian and combatant victims. Iran has insisted that those strikes are prohibited under the two-week ceasefire, which the US and Israel deny.
The war is also testing US alliances. Mr. Trump has done it he cursed at NATO for not getting involved in the Iran conflict and considered leaving the organization, saying on Tuesday that NATO “wasn’t there for us, and it won’t be there for us in the future!”
