U.S. forces launched a precision airstrike on Iran’s Kharg Island, destroying military targets while sparing oil infrastructure, and issued an ultimatum amid Marines heading to the Gulf. Israel ramps up bombings in Lebanon and mobilizes for a ground invasion south of the Litani River to create a buffer zone against Hezbollah.
President Trump set a roughly 10 to 14 day decision window for possible military action against Iran as U.S. carrier groups, missile defenses and stealth aircraft build up in the region. At the same time, a member of the Federal Religious Liberty Commission was removed for opposing Zionism while the administration tightens social media visa screening and enforcement related to alleged anti-Semitism.
The United States has massed carrier strike groups, air assets, and precision strike capabilities in the Middle East as officials signal a likely time-limited, air-focused campaign to pressure Iran amid urgent diplomatic deadlines. Domestically the piece examines the economic costs of mass deportations and how Republican base loyalty combined with donor incentives constrains immigration and other policy choices.