LIVE UPDATES: Cargo ship struck in Strait of Hormuz as Iran launches drone, missile attacks

Bangladesh has asked the U.S. government for permission to purchase oil from Russia, as supply shortages and rising crude oil prices persist while the war with Iran continues.

The request came as Bangladesh’s Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury met on Wednesday with the U.S. Ambassador to Dhaka Brent T. Christensen.

The U.S. sanctioned Russian oil after Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 during the Biden administration.

Bangladesh heavily relies on fuel imports from the Middle East, and the government started rationing fuel for vehicles after the war began.

The country has closed a fertilizer factory to keep fuel flowing to power plants, and universities were closed in an effort to reduce energy consumption.

Bangladesh is also working to bring fuel from alternative sources, such as India, which has already supplied 5,000 tons of diesel as an emergency measure through a cross-border pipeline.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Oil prices increased on Thursday as Iran intensified attacks on oil and transport facilities across the Middle East amid ongoing conflict in the region, ‌raising concerns about disruptions to the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent futures ‌jumped $8.54, or 9.28%, to $100.52 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate crude rose $7.22, or 8.28%, to $94.47.

Brent ​reached $119.50 a barrel on Monday, its highest since 2022, before dropping when U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the war on Iran could end soon.

Before Trump’s remarks, the price for a barrel of Brent crude rose to more than $107 on Sunday after trading resumed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a 16.5% jump from its Friday closing price of $92.69. West Texas Intermediate, produced in the U.S., was up to about $106.22 a barrel on Sunday, a 16.9% increase from when it closed on Friday at $90.90.

“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilised,” a spokesperson for Iran’s military command said on Wednesday.

Reuters contributed to this report.

CitiBank announced on Thursday it would shutter nearly all its branches — with one exception — after a threat by Iran to target financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates.

The company said it made the decision “given the evolving situation within the country.”

Other financial institutions have urged staff to work from home in response to the threat, according to reports.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The first week of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran cost the U.S. an estimated $11.3 billion, the Pentagon said in a briefing to Congress earlier this week.

The Pentagon earlier reported spending $5 billion on munitions alone over the first weekend of the conflict.

The Trump administration had previously suggested it would be asking Congress for supplemental funding for the war, but that request appears to have lost steam, at least for now.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Wednesday that he was not expecting the supplemental request to be made this month.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said Iran struck its fuel tanks located near Bahrain International Airport, which started a fire.

The Iranian attack hit fuel tanks at a facility in the Muharraq Governorate, the ministry said on X.

Those in the area were urged to remain in their homes and close windows and ventilation openings as a precautionary measure against possible exposure to smoke, as fire officials worked to put out the blaze.

Authorities also shut down roads in the area and directed drivers to take alternative routes.

Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs said it relocated several Gulf Air aircraft and cargo planes to alternative airports, including sites in Saudi Arabia, in response to the threat.

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense said it knocked down three more drone strikes, after earlier downing 18 unmanned aerial vehicles across the nation’s eastern territories.

The ministry said on X that its military had intercepted two drones over the Empty Quarter desert that were reportedly targeting the Shaybah oil field when they were shot down.

The ministry subsequently stated that it had taken down two additional drones in the eastern region.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were activated in response to a reported missile threat amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The UAE urged people to remain in a safe space.

Air defenses are now dealing with a missile threat. Please remain in a safe place and follow the warnings and updates on official websites,” the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said on X.

Oman’s critical oil export terminal was evacuated, and two crude tankers were hit in Iraq’s waters.

Vessels were directed to leave the port of Mina Al Fahal in Oman as a precautionary measure, according to Bloomberg, citing people who directly received a notice from a port agent.

The attacks on the vessels off the coast of Iraq also led to the country’s oil terminals suspending operations.

This, as threats to global energy supply due to the war in the Middle East continue to worsen.

Iraq has stopped operations at all the country’s oil terminals after a strike on its Basra port early Thursday killed at least one person, according to officials.

Farhan al-Fartousi, the director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, said the attack targeted a ship engaged in a ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Basra port on the Persian Gulf, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported.

Al-Fartousi said it was unclear if the ship was targeted by airborne or seaborne drone attack.

He noted that commercial ports in Iraq remained open, even as the oil terminals have been shut down.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Israeli Defense Forces intercepted rockets over Tel Aviv amid ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East, video footage shows.

Iran and Hezbollah were coordinating strikes on Wednesday, firing on Israel simultaneously, a senior IDF official told Fox News correspondent Nate Foy.

Michigan-based medical device company Stryker announced on Thursday it is experiencing a “global network disruption” to its Microsoft suite following a cyberattack that may have ties to a pro-Iranian group.

Fox News spoke to a Stryker employee based in Boise, Idaho, who confirmed the attack and said they were unable to access their network.

The employee said they were advised to avoid connecting to any Stryker VPN networks or software on any device, and coworkers’ work phones were wiped Wednesday morning.

In a message to customers, Stryker confirmed it is experiencing a global network disruption to its Microsoft environment as a result of a cyberattack.

“We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained,” Stryker wrote. “Our teams are working rapidly to understand the impact of the attack on our systems.”

A pro-Iranian hacktivist group later took to social media to claim responsibility for the cyberattack.

The hackers, who alleged Stryker was a “Zionist-rooted corporation,” claimed 200,000 systems were affected and 50 terabytes of data were extracted.

Stryker has not yet confirmed the group’s involvement.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital’s Alex Koch and Danamarie McNicholl.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that reports of a potential Iranian revenge plot involving drones launched from offshore targeting California are being investigated.

Speaking to reporters in an Air Force One underwing gaggle, Trump was asked by Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy about a law-enforcement bulletin warning of a possible Iranian drone attack scenario.

“It’s being investigated,” Trump said. “You have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come.”

Trump also said he had been briefed about potential Iranian sleeper cells inside the United States, claiming authorities are monitoring them closely.

“We know where most of them are,” Trump said. “We’ve got our eyes on all of them.”

The president argued some entered the country during the Biden administration’s immigration policies.

Trump also said the U.S. military campaign against Iran is overwhelming Tehran’s forces.

“Iran is being absolutely decimated,” he said.Trump added that Iranian naval and air capabilities have been largely destroyed and said the U.S. is monitoring the Strait of Hormuz as the conflict continues.“

We’ve knocked out all of their boats,” he said. “I think we’re in very good shape.”

Iran and Hezbollah are coordinating attacks and firing simultaneously at Israel, a senior Israeli Defense Forces official told Fox News Wednesday night.

Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported an explosion in Tel Aviv after alerts warned of incoming missile fire from Iran.

At the same time, Hezbollah launched a heavy rocket barrage from Lebanon.

A senior IDF official told Fox News that around 100 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel within about an hour, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes.

Fox News correspondent Nate Foy, reporting from Tel Aviv on “Special Report,” said the latest volley brings the total to about 850 rockets and drones fired by Hezbollah over the past eight days since the group entered the war.

Israeli forces are now striking Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Dahya neighborhood of southern Beirut.

Hezbollah earlier signaled it planned to expand its attacks against Israel, while Iran continues missile and drone strikes across the region as the conflict escalates.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran “doesn’t know what the h— hit them” after U.S. military strikes during Operation Epic Fury.

Speaking at Verst Logistics in Kentucky, Trump described the conflict as an “excursion” aimed at eliminating “very evil people.”

“By the end of the year, we did an excursion. Do you know what an excursion is?” Trump said. “We had to take a little trip to get rid of some evil, very evil people.”

Trump argued the confrontation was long overdue, saying Iran had been responsible for attacks on Americans for decades.

“It should have been done for 47 years. They’ve been killing our people — 47 years,” he said.

“They don’t know what the h— hit them. They got hit by the American military,” Trump added.

“They say, ‘What the h— is happening?’ They didn’t expect anything like this.”

Retired FBI Supervisory agent Jason Pack said reports about a potential Iranian drone threat circulating among law enforcement agencies should be viewed in the context of how intelligence sharing works in the United States.

Sharing analysis with Fox News Digital, Pack said the FBI began rapidly sharing raw intelligence with federal, state and local partners through Joint Terrorism Task Forces after the Sept. 11 attacks, often before information is fully verified.

“That is still how it works today,” Pack wrote.According to Pack, intelligence suggesting a possible threat is quickly passed to JTTF partners nationwide so agencies can prepare if a situation develops.

“The Iranian drone threat reporting appears to fall into that category,” he said, adding that such intelligence is often “raw” and shared “in an abundance of caution.”

Pack emphasized that possible threats are not the same as probable ones.

“When raw intelligence leaks before it has been vetted, the public hears the alarm without the context,” he wrote. “That creates undue concern.”

He added that the early sharing of intelligence is not unusual but part of standard procedures designed to ensure authorities are prepared if a threat emerges.

Three brothers have been arrested for the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Norway, an alleged attack in which no one was injured.

The brothers were taken into custody in Oslo and are Norwegian citizens of Iraqi origin in their 20s, authorities said Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

“They are suspected of a terror bombing,” Police Attorney Christian Hatlo told reporters.

“We believe they detonated a powerful bomb at the U.S. embassy with the intention of taking lives or causing significant damage,” he added.

The bomb, an improvised explosive device (IED), went off Sunday and damaged the entrance to the embassy’s consular section.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for that attack, one of which would be an act of terrorism, authorities said.

“We believe they detonated a powerful bomb at the U.S. embassy with the intention of taking lives or causing significant damage,” Hatlo said.

Authorities believe one of the men planted the bomb while the two others took part in the plot, Hatlo said.

Police have reinforced security measures and have increased their presence around the embassy. 

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that countries around the world will release 400 million barrels of oil from national petroleum reserves in a coordinated effort to stabilize global energy markets amid the war with Iran.

Speaking during remarks at Verst Logistics in Kentucky, Trump said the International Energy Agency agreed earlier in the day to coordinate the move.

“But I’m pleased to report that earlier today, the International Energy Agency agreed to coordinate the release of a record 400 million barrels of oil from various national petroleum reserves around the world, which will substantially reduce the oil prices,” Trump said.

The announcement comes as oil markets have been rattled by fighting in the Middle East and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy shipments.

Trump also said the U.S. military campaign against Iran has dealt a severe blow to the country’s capabilities.

“Over the past 11 days, our military has virtually destroyed Iran,” the president said. “It’s a tough country.”

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday approved a resolution condemning Iran’s attacks against countries across the Middle East, according to Israel’s ambassador to the U.N.

The measure, submitted by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, passed with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions from Russia and China, the Israeli mission said.

In total, 135 U.N. member states co-sponsored the resolution, which declares that Iran’s missile and drone attacks against regional countries violate international law and threaten international peace and security.

The resolution also calls for an immediate halt to attacks and threats by Tehran.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon said the vote reflects growing international frustration with Iran’s actions.

“The Islamic regime is firing on the countries of the region out of desperation,” Danon said. “The regime in Tehran is trying to export terror and destruction, but even the Security Council is running out of patience with Iranian aggression.”

ABC News reported Wednesday that the FBI circulated a bulletin to law enforcement agencies warning that Iran could seek to carry out a drone attack in California in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Tehran.

According to ABC, the alert was distributed to police departments as part of broader security guidance following the start of the conflict with Iran.

The report noted that officials have no additional information about the timing, target, method or perpetrators of any potential attack.

Sources told Fox News congressional correspondent Bill Melugin that California officials described the bulletin as one of many routine security updates shared with state and local law enforcement.

“The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is actively working with state, local and federal security officials to protect our communities,” a spokesperson for the office said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom also weighed in, saying that officials are closely monitoring potential threats but are not aware of any imminent danger to the state.

“I am in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials, including at @Cal_OES, to monitor potential threats to California — including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East,” Newsom wrote on X.

“While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state,” he added.

The Israel Defense Forces shared a short video Wednesday showing a radio exchange between an Israeli Air Force pilot and U.S. forces during ongoing operations against Iran.

“It is a great honor for us to fight with you. You’re doing a great job,” the Israeli pilot says in the clip.

A pilot identified as part of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) replies: “Thank you very much. Likewise, gentlemen — please be safe out there. Strike hard.”

The brief exchange offers a glimpse into the close operational coordination between Israeli and U.S. forces as both militaries continue strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday the conflict with Iran is both a “war” and an “excursion” that he argued will ultimately prevent a broader conflict.

“Well, it’s both,” Trump said when asked by Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy whether the fighting should be considered a war or an excursion.

“It’s an excursion that will keep us out of a war. And the war is going to be — I mean for them it’s a war,” Trump said.

Trump added that the campaign has been “easier than we thought,” pointing to U.S. strikes that have destroyed Iranian missiles, drones and mine-laying vessels.

“They had thousands of missiles… 7 or 8,000 missiles. We got many of them before they got to launch,” Trump said.

The president also said U.S. forces are now targeting Iran’s drone production facilities and naval mining capabilities as Operation Epic Fury continues.

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that missiles were launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, triggering alerts across parts of the country.

“Defense systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the IDF said in a post on X.

Israel’s Home Front Command issued direct alerts to mobile phones in affected areas, instructing residents to immediately enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice.

“The public is requested to exercise responsibility and act in accordance with the directives—they save lives,” the IDF said.

Residents were told they may only leave shelters after an explicit directive from authorities saying it is safe to do so.

President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday that oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz will have “great safety” despite threats from the Iranian regime. 

Trump’s remarks come as a projectile hit a Thai-flagged cargo ship on Wednesday off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it on fire. The Iranian regime reportedly claimed responsibility for striking the ship, the Mayuree Naree.   

“I think you’re going to see great safety, and it’s going to be very, very quickly,” Trump said after being asked by FOX Business’ Correspondent Edward Lawrence about what the U.S. will do to ensure the safety of oil flowing  through the Strait of Hormuz. 

“We have decimated that country,” Trump added. “They’re paying a big price now for 47 years of killing.” 

Fox News’ Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report. 

Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said Wednesday that Iran cannot compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. 

“Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali told Iranian state television, according to Reuters. 

Former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Tuesday that Trump assured him that Iran is “welcome to compete” in the upcoming World Cup. 

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran’s leaders “are gone” and their military is crumbling as a result of Operation Epic Fury.

“Our military is the best. It’s the most powerful in the world, and they’re hitting them very hard,” Trump said.

When asked what more needed to be done by the U.S. military for the operation to end, Trump said, “More of the same.”

“And we’ll see how that all comes out. Right now, They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost their air force. They have no anti-aircraft apparatus at all. They have no radar. Their leaders are gone and we could do a lot worse,” Trump continued.

“We’re leaving certain things that if we take them out, or we could take them out by this afternoon, in fact, within an hour, they literally would never be able to build that country back again,” the president also said.

Trump later added, “we have hit them harder than virtually any country in history has been hit, and we’re not finished yet.”

FIRST ON FOX: A group of House Republicans is urging the Trump administration to choke off Russia’s profits from one of its largest energy companies as global oil prices spike.

It comes as the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran, one of Russia’s closest allies and another major energy producer, is threatening to spiral the market out of control both overseas and here at home.

Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, is leading five fellow GOP lawmakers in a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding Lukoil — which accounts for roughly 2% of the world’s oil output.

Western sanctions have forced Lukoil to announce it would sell certain international assets as countries like the U.S. and U.K. attempt to whittle down Russia’s control over global energy.

“The U.S. government has a significant role — in fact, a responsibility — in determining the ultimate fate of these oil and gas assets. We encourage you to exercise the utmost caution to ensure we do not inadvertently squander this opportunity and relinquish our leverage to U.S. adversaries,” the Republicans wrote.

They warned against a situation where “transaction loopholes or back-room deals with Lukoil’s senior management” could allow Lukoil assets to “slip back into Russia’s hands as tensions subside or U.S. sanctions are lifted.”

The six Republicans on the letter, all from Texas, are also lobbying the administration to ease a pathway for Lone Star State companies to acquire those assets.

As the Iran conflict disrupts energy markets and squeezes jet-fuel supplies, there is a concern that airfares could rise in the weeks ahead.

Fuel traders are watching the Strait of Hormuz closely, as disruptions from U.S.-Israeli strikes and retaliatory Iranian drone and missile attacks could quickly ripple through global oil and gas flows, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

Jesse Neugarten, CEO of travel service Dollar Flight Club, told Fox News Digital the conflict in Iran is putting pressure on global oil markets — and fuel is one of the biggest costs for airlines.

“If fuel prices stay elevated into the summer, travelers could start to see fewer cheap fares and slightly higher average ticket prices, especially on long-haul international routes,” said Neugarten. 

Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog “View From the Wing,” told Fox News Digital that higher fuel prices will raise airfare costs — making marginal flights no longer profitable to operate.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump assured him that Iran is “welcome to compete” in the upcoming World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,” Infantino said Tuesday night. “We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026. During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” he added.

The remarks come as at least six members of the Iranian women’s soccer team decided to stay in Australia and seek asylum instead of going back to their home country.

That team arrived in Australia for a tournament before Israel and the U.S. launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28.

Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday, which was viewed by some as an act of resistance.

Fox News’ Bryan Llenas and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

Republicans sharply criticized former President Joe Biden over rising prices at the gas pump, but a spike in energy prices amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran threatens to scramble the party’s affordability messaging.

The Iran conflict has led to a surge in gas prices for Americans, leading to an average 50 cents a gallon increase since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28.

The average price of gas reached $3.54 per gallon on Tuesday, according to AAA. Diesel prices have also risen to $4.72 per gallon. The increases have been mostly fueled by volatility in oil prices, which rose above $100 per barrel on Monday as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shuttered.=-0The president characterized the gas price hike amid the Iran conflict as “a very small price to pay” in a Truth Social post Sunday.

That statement represented a sharp break with Trump’s typical messaging touting low gas prices prior to Operation Epic Fury.

“Gasoline, which reached a peak of over $6 a gallon in some states under my predecessor — it was quite honestly a disaster — is now below $2.30 a gallon in most states. And in some places, $1.99 a gallon,” President Donald Trump said during his Feb. 27 State of the Union address. “And when I visited the great state of Iowa just a few weeks ago, I even saw $1.85 a gallon for gasoline.”

The surge in gas and diesel prices threatens to undermine the economic message of President Trump and congressional Republicans, who have touted low gas prices as a major win in the lead-up to November’s midterm elections. Cost of living issues are expected to be a key concern among voters as both parties claim to be laser-focused on making everyday life more affordable.

U.S. Central Command said it issued a warning Wednesday to civilians “that the Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping.”

“U.S. forces urge civilians in Iran to immediately avoid all port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating. Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel, and commercial vessel crews should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

“The Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping. This dangerous action risks the lives of innocent people. Civilian ports used for military purposes lose protected status and become legitimate military targets under international law,” it warned.

“Although the U.S. military also cannot guarantee civilian safety in or near facilities used by the Iranian regime for military purposes, American forces will continue taking every feasible precaution to minimize harm to civilians,” CENTCOM also said.

U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said, in what officials described as a move to prevent Iran from disrupting one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points.

The strikes come as oil traffic through the strait remains at a near standstill, threatening a corridor that carries roughly 20 million barrels per day — about one-fifth of global consumption — and squeezing Gulf exporters like Iraq and Kuwait that rely on the narrow passage to ship their primary source of revenue.

Prior to taking out the mining vessels, Trump demanded Iran remove them “IMMEDIATELY!” warning that if it doesn’t, “the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before.”

U.S. officials have long warned that Iran maintains a significant naval mine inventory and has rehearsed tactics designed to threaten commercial shipping in the Gulf. The destruction of the vessels appears aimed at stopping any potential deployment before mines could be laid in shipping lanes.

The Strait of Hormuz, bordered by Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, is a critical artery for global energy markets. Even the threat of mining operations can further disrupt traffic and spike insurance and shipping costs.

President Donald Trump told Axios on Wednesday that there’s “practically nothing left” to target in Iran as Operation Epic Fury continues for a twelfth day.

“Little this and that… Any time I want it to end, it will end,” Trump added in a five-minute phone call with the outlet.

This comes after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the war will continue “without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign.”

Israeli and U.S. officials say they are preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes in Iran. In an update on the operation Wednesday, U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the U.S. has struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships using a variety of precision weapons systems.

“Just yesterday, we had strike waves nearly every hours from different locations and directions going into Iran,” he said.

Fox News’ Patrick Ward contributed to this post.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran “previously warned” its neighbors in the Middle East about an expansion in the conflict as Arab counties are reporting new aggression from the Islamic Republic on Wednesday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, emphasized “Iran’s inherent right to defend itself” and “stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran had previously warned all relevant parties in the region and beyond that in the event of a U.S. military action against Iran, it would inevitably target all American facilities and bases in the region, which would lead to the expansion of the war across the entire region,” according to a statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

“Araghchi emphasized that such actions would be taken within the framework of the right to self-defense and based on the recognized norms of international law, and that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers defending the security and lives of its citizens a fundamental and inalienable responsibility,” the statement added.

The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that its “air defenses are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones originating from Iran.”

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense also said its armed forces intercepted a missile attack on Wednesday.

The Israel Defense Forces issued a warning Wednesday to residents of Lebanon as Israeli troops target military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist group Hezbollah. 

“Urgent warning to residents of Lebanon in the following areas: Al-Matariyyah, Kharayeb, Sidon, Zrariyeh,  Mazraat El Wastah, Mazrat Jemjin. Hezbollah activities are forcing the Defense Army to act against it forcefully without harming you,” the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X. 

“For the sake of your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and stay away from the villages by at least 1000 meters,” he added. “Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, and their combat vehicles is putting their life in danger.” 

U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Wednesday that “Iranian forces continue to deliberately target innocent civilians in Gulf countries while hiding behind their own people as they launch attacks from highly populated cities in Iran.”

“Of course, forces executing Operation Epic Fury aren’t just defending against Iranian threats. We are methodically dismantling them by hitting Iranian missiles and drones as we also strike their defense industrial base,” Cooper said in a video update. “Just last night, our bomber force hit a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility as an example. So it’s not just about what’s shooting at us today, it’s also about eliminating the threat in the future.”

Cooper’s remarks come as countries in the Middle East, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, said they have been targeted by fresh missile and drone attacks Wednesday.

“We’re on a path to eliminating Iran’s ability to threaten Americans and our friends. And we’re achieving this through a combination of lethality, precision, and rapid innovation,” Cooper also said. “Let me highlight a few examples, at least the ones that aren’t classified, of how we are achieving lethal effects in entirely new ways.”

“First, our warfighters are leveraging a variety of advanced AI tools. These systems help us sift through vast amounts of data in seconds, so our leaders can cut through the noise and make smarter decisions faster than the enemy can react,” he said. “Humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot, and when to shoot. But advanced AI tools can turn processes that used to take hours and sometimes even days into seconds.”

A suspected retaliatory drone attack by pro-Iranian militias struck a major U.S. diplomatic facility in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper said the strike hit the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center, and no injuries were immediately reported.

Six drones were launched toward the compound, five of which were shot down.

The Post, citing a security official and a State Department alert, reported one drone struck near a guard tower and people at the facility were instructed to “duck and cover.”

The security official told The Washington Post the attack was likely conducted by militias affiliated with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose umbrella group of Iran-aligned Shiite armed factions that have claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. forces in the region.

At the start of Operation Epic Fury, the State Department had urged Americans to depart immediately from more than a dozen countries across the Middle East, warning of “serious safety risks” as the Iran war intensified.

U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Wednesday that American forces operating in the Middle East have taken out “the last of four Soleimani-class warships — that’s an entire class of Iranian ships now out of the fight.”

“To date, we have struck more than 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships using a variety of precision weapons systems. Just yesterday, we had strike waves nearly every hours from different locations and directions going into Iran,” Cooper said in a video posted to X.

“U.S. combat power is building, Iranian combat power is declining,” Cooper said. “Every day we are striking hard at Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.”

Cooper added that he continues to “be impressed with all the branches of the U.S. military.”

“The entire team is performing superbly. Strike operations from our Joint Force continue as I’ve said. I assess that we are clearly exercising air superiority over vast swaths of Iran,” Cooper said.

Photos emerged Wednesday showing a massive crowd of Iranians gathering in Tehran for a funeral honoring Iranian military commanders who were killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli conflict. 

Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Mohammad Pakpour, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were among those whose funeral ceremonies were being held, according to the website IranWire. 

“Mousavi served as one of the highest senior military ranking officials,” the IDF said earlier this month. 

Pakpour was one of the leaders of the “destruction of Israel” plan, the IDF said. 

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Brie Stimson contributed to this report. 

U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that, “Since the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped drastically.” 

CENTCOM posted the message on X alongside a video showing the obliteration of Iranian defense infrastructure. 

Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine had told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday that, “Our strikes mean we’ve made significant progress in reducing the number of missile and drone attacks out of Iran.”  

“Ballistic missile attacks continue to trend downward, 90% from where they’ve started, and one-way attack drones have decreased 83%, since the beginning of the operation,” Caine added. 

The Israel Defense Forces said it launched a wide-scale wave of strikes Wednesday targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure across the country.

The IDF added that it also started attacking infrastructure belonging to the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The developments came after Iran and Hezbollah unleashed coordinated cluster bomb strikes on Israel on Tuesday.

Fox News’ Yonat Friling contributed to this report.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced Wednesday that it scrambled fighter jets on in response to missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran.

The Gulf nation’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems were intercepting ballistic missiles, while its fighter jets were intercepting drones and loitering munitions.

“UAE air defenses are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran,” the UAE Ministry of Defense wrote on X. “MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.”

The Dubai Media Office also said officials “have confirmed the downing of two drones in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB), resulting in minor injuries to two individuals of Ghanaian nationality and one Bangladeshi individual, as well as a moderate injury to one individual of Indian nationality.”

“The competent authorities have also confirmed the continuation of normal flight operations,” it added.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that its armed forces intercepted a missile attack that was aiming for the Middle Eastern country.

“The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar,” the ministry wrote on X.

A cargo ship was struck on Wednesday by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it on fire after the U.S. targeted Iranian minelaying vessels that could target the strait.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which is run by the British military, said the vessel was hit just north of Oman in the strait. The center said the crew was working to evacuate the ship.

Iran did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, although it has been targeting ships in and around the strait.

The narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf sees about a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded pass through, although the war with Iran has caused significant disruptions.

The UKMTO earlier reported another attack targeting a vessel off Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.