The U.S. struck Iran on Friday to respond to a drone attack a day earlier on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a provocation that U.S. President Donald Trump said violated the ceasefire.
U.S. Central Command said the military struck missile and drone locations and coastal radar sites in Iran.
The strikes came shortly after Trump told reporters, “You’ll find out,” whether the U.S. would response to the drone attack.
“I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday, actually four of them,” Trump said at the White House shortly before the U.S. struck back. When asked why there would be strikes when Trump has insisted talks with Tehran are going well, Trump said of Iran: “They’re a little bit different.”
—The Associated Press
Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with U.S. in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Israel and Lebanon’s ambassadors, announced a framework agreement Friday that was described as a first step toward peace following months of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The officials did not share details on the agreement that was signed by Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, and Nada Hamadeh, ambassador of Lebanon to the United States.
Hamadeh said the framework “is a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities, enabling our people to go back to their land and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security, and prosperity.”
—The Associated Press
Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton departs the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Va., Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information
Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to illegally retaining classified information, sealing a deal with federal prosecutors that could allow him to avoid a prison term.
Bolton, who became an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump after serving in the Republican’s first administration, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28 by U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Bolton, 77, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded guilty to a single count of illegally retaining national defense information, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. His plea agreement with the Justice Department may enable him to avoid time behind bars, but the judge ultimately will decide his punishment.
—The Associated Press
Communism is greatest threat to U.S., Trump says at Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference
As the United States prepares to celebrate its achievements during elaborate 250th anniversary celebrations, President Donald Trump focused Friday on what he perceives as the nation’s biggest threat to its future: communism.
“It’s ironic we’re celebrating a very important birthday, our most important birthday so far — 250 years,” he said to a crowd of evangelicals and Catholics who are part of the nonprofit Faith and Freedom Coalition, which advocates for traditional family values and religious liberty.
“And instead of speaking about Christ, and instead of speaking about freedom and victories of all different kinds, we’re speaking about yet another threat to the foundations of America,” he said. “These ruthless communists will attack all religions, but in particular Christianity. They always do.”
—Spectrum News’ Susan Carpenter
Leon Black tells House panel Epstein ‘duped’ him as judge orders DOJ to unredact, release more records
Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee accused Leon Black, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, of not answering their questions during testimony about his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday.
Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., told reporters after the interview ended abruptly that he issued two subpoenas: for Black to provide for all nondisclosure agreements, or NDAs, that the billionaire is party to and to compel Black to appear for a deposition next month.
“We want to know everything about the NDAs,” Comer said.
—Spectrum News’ Christina Santucci
More Friday reads
• Trump threatens 100% tariffs on European imports if countries impose tax on digital services
• Judge blocks Trump plan that would limit graduate student loans in nursing and other fields
• A Biden-era student loan repayment plan is going away: What you need to know
• Fear grips Haitian communities after Supreme Court ruling unwinds protection from deportation