U.S. vows most intense Iran strikes

WASHINGTON — This report highlights facts confirmed by at least four respected sources — AP, Reuters, NPR, PBS NewsHour, CBS News, and DW. Together they report that the U.S. is preparing what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the most intense day of strikes inside Iran as the war escalates.

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday would be the most intense day of U.S. strikes inside Iran so far, with the highest number of fighters, bombers, and strikes in the campaign.
• U.S. and Israeli airstrikes continued while Iran launched new attacks toward Israel and Gulf Arab states.
• Officials warned that the conflict is putting energy shipping in the Strait of Hormuz at risk and said the U.S. would respond if Iran tries to disrupt traffic through the waterway.

Additional Details Reported

The Pentagon said about 140 U.S. service members have been wounded since the war began, with most injuries described as minor and a smaller number classified as severe, according to AP and PBS NewsHour.

Gen. Dan Caine said U.S. forces have struck more than 5,000 targets since the start of the war and are aiming deeper into Iran’s military and industrial base, per CBS News.

President Trump has offered mixed signals about the conflict’s duration, saying in comments cited by NPR and CBS News that the war is “very complete” while also emphasizing that he will determine the end stage.

How we report: We select the day’s most important stories, confirm facts across multiple reputable sources, and avoid anonymous sourcing. Our goal is clear, balanced coverage you can trust—because transparency and verification matter for informed readers.