Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Iran Indicating It May Deploy Mines In Strait of Hormuz
U.S. officials told "CBS News" that Iran appears to be preparing to deploy naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf that carries about 20-percent of the world's oil supply. American officials said smaller Iranian vessels, each capable of carrying two to three mines, have been observed potentially positioning to lay them in the strait. President Trump reacted quickly yesterday, posting on Truth Social that if any mines had been placed, he wanted them removed "immediately," and warned that failure to do so would result in military consequences "at a level never seen before." At a Pentagon briefing yesterday morning, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said U.S. Central Command is actively hunting and striking Iranian mine-laying vessels.
2 Pentagon: 140 US Troops Wounded Since Start of War
The Pentagon is offering the clearest tally yet of US casualties as the 11-day-old war with Iran grinds on. About 140 American service members have been wounded since fighting began, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Tuesday in an emailed statement, per Stars and Stripes. Parnell said the vast majority of injuries are minor, and 108 wounded service members have already returned to duty. Eight are listed as severely wounded "and are receiving the highest level of medical care," Parnell said. Before Tuesday's statement, officials had only acknowledged the eight severe injuries. Hours before Parnell's statement, sources told Reuters that up to 150 American personnel had been injured. The US has recorded seven combat deaths—six in Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia—along with another non-combat death in Kuwait attributed to a medical issue, reports Stars and Stripes. The update landed as Iran fired more missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states, and as Israel continued airstrikes on targets in Tehran and Lebanon. Regional death tolls are climbing sharply: officials say at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel since the conflict began.
3 Shots Fired At US Consulate In Toronto
Toronto police and Canadian federal authorities are actively investigating after shots were fired at the U.S. consulate in downtown Toronto early yesterday morning. Officers were called to the scene around 5:29 a.m. and found shell casings and bullet damage to the building's exterior, but no one was injured. Toronto Police Deputy Chief Frank Barredo said investigators are searching for two suspects and described the case as active and aggressively resourced. RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said it was too early to say whether the shooting was connected to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. As of last night, no suspects had been arrested in the case.