Iran can \u201cno longer threaten regional partners, or the United States, in ways that they were able to do before, across every domain,\u201d the commander of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, explained.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that the \u201cTrump administration\u2019s public portrayal of a shattered Iranian military is sharply at odds with what U.S. intelligence agencies are telling policymakers behind closed doors.\u201d<\/p>\n
The newspaper cited \u201cclassified assessments from early this month that show Iran has regained access to most of its missile sites, launchers and underground facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost alarming to some senior officials is evidence that Iran has restored operational access to 30 of the 33 missile sites it maintains along the Strait of Hormuz, which could threaten American warships and oil tankers transiting the narrow waterway,\u201d the Times added. \u201cIran still fields about 70 percent of its mobile launchers across the country and has retained roughly 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile, according to the assessments. That stockpile encompasses both ballistic missiles, which can target other nations in the region, and a smaller supply of cruise missiles, which can be used against shorter-range targets on land or at sea.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Washington Post offered a similar assessment<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n WaPo last week: “Iran retains about 75 percent of its prewar inventories of mobile launchers and about 70 percent of its prewar stockpiles of missiles” https:\/\/t.co\/FpAhZQKPlG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John Hudson (@John_Hudson) May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Cooper took issue with those figures when asked about them.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s appropriate in this forum not to discuss specific intelligence assessments,\u201d he responded. \u201cWhat I would say, from my perspective, is the numbers that I\u2019ve seen in open source are not accurate. I think what also is not taken into consideration, it\u2019s more than just the numbers. It\u2019s the command and control that\u2019s been shattered. It\u2019s a significant degradation and capability, and it\u2019s the lack of any ability to then produce any missiles\u2026on the back end.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooper was further pressed on Iran\u2019s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz because it still has missiles and fast boats and other assets.<\/p>\n \u201cIn each of those cases, their capabilities have been significantly degraded,\u201d the admiral posited. \u201cIf I just use my own professional experience and 100 transits through the Strait of Hormuz, you would typically see 20 to 40 fast boats, and lately we\u2019ve seen two or three. So the degradation means it\u2019s been significant, but some residual capability does exist with respect to the threat that remains.\u201d<\/p>\n CENTCOM forces recently sank about a half-dozen<\/a> Iranian fast boats threatening ships in the Strait.<\/p>\n .@CENTCOM<\/a> Commander Adm. Brad Cooper: “[Iran’s] capability has been significantly degraded. If I just use my own professional experience, in 100 transits through the Strait of Hormuz, you would typically see 20-40 fast-boats; lately, we’ve seen two or three.” @centcomcdr<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8pWaMFpKQ9<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Though Cooper downplayed Iran\u2019s current capabilities, he said Tehran posed significant new threats with its modern drones.<\/p>\n \u201cThe days of $35,000 drones that we saw in the last couple of years, particularly in the fight against the Houthis in Yemen<\/a>, those days are behind us,\u201d Cooper proffered. \u201cToday we face an increased threat from drones that are highly sophisticated. They\u2019re jet-powered<\/a>. They have high-end sensors. They have electronic warfare\u2026signals intelligence. So those days of using high value defenses to shoot down cheap targets are behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite the contrary, what we have been doing lately is using our own low-cost one way attack drones, [to attack] Iran, making them use higher and more expensive weapons. So I can confidently tell you, we have flipped the cost curve in many ways. Always work to be done, but I like where we are in this regard.\u201d<\/p>\n CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper says the U.S. has \u201cflipped the cost curve\u201d in drone warfare against Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cThe days of using high-value defenses to shoot down cheap targets are behind us.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/7iK4JKpL9N<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Cooper didn\u2019t elaborate, but earlier in his testimony, he talked about the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System<\/a> (LUCAS) kamikaze drones that TWZ has written frequently about<\/a>. CENTCOM first began using these weapons<\/a>, reverse-engineered from Iranian Shahed-136 drones, to strike targets in Iran.<\/p>\n The War Zone has advocated for the procurement of this exact class of drone<\/a> by the American military and today, Cooper once again backed up that assessment.<\/p>\n The LUCAS drones are \u201can additional capability that we\u2019ve now employed against an adversary very effectively,\u201d Cooper commented. He declined to provide further details.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cVis a vis Iran, I think I would just like to keep that in the classified setting,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n Cooper provided additional statistics about Epic Fury to the committee.<\/p>\n \u201cWe destroyed or buried much of Iran\u2019s ballistic missiles, launcher vehicles, and long-range attack drones with more than 450 strikes on ballistic missile storage and systems and roughly 800 strikes on Iran\u2019s drone-launching units and storage. In the air domain, Iran\u2019s air and air defense forces are functionally and operationally irrelevant.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBefore OEF, the Iranian Air Force flew between 30 and 100 sorties each day. Today that number is zero. We destroyed or rendered non-mission-capable Iran\u2019s fixed-wing airfields, hangars, fuel storage, and munitions stockpiles, and we knocked out 82 percent of its air defense missile systems along with the radar and command architecture that tied them together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt sea, we destroyed 161 vessels in total across 16 classes of warships, effectively crippling the regime\u2019s ability to operate.\u201d<\/p>\n SASC @CENTCOM<\/a> Posture Hearing<\/p>\n Admiral Cooper: \u2014 Charlie B (@supbrow) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe eliminated more than 90 percent of Iran\u2019s once-massive inventory of over 8,000 naval mines, with more than 700 airstrikes on Iranian naval mine targets. In sum, Iran\u2019s navy can no longer claim to be a maritime power, and it cannot project into the Gulf of Oman or the Indian Ocean. Iran retains nuisance capability \u2013 harassment, low-end drone and rocket attacks, and residual proxy support \u2013 but it no longer possesses the means to threaten major regional operations or to deter U.S. freedom of action in the air or maritime domains.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe second-order effects of OEF are significant. More than 2,000 strikes against Iran\u2019s command-and-control structures created leadership vacuums, paralysis, and internal confusion.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have seen reporting of desertions, personnel shortages, and signs of regime desperation in their attempts to compel discipline through arrest and execution. Most importantly for the region\u2019s future: Iran will be highly challenged to proliferate advanced weapons to Lebanese Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, or the Iraqi militia groups. The supply chain from Tehran to the proxies has been broken.\u201d<\/p>\n While Iran has clearly been battered by attacks from the U.S. and Israel, recent events show it can still inflict damage on its neighbors and shipping. As we previously reported<\/a>, Tehran has repeatedly struck the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before and after the April 7 ceasefire. In previous coverage<\/a>, we have pointed out how Iran has also attacked U.S. warships and commercial vessels they were helping guide through the Strait of Hormuz during the short-lived Project Freedom operation. <\/p>\n Hours before Cooper testified, \u201cthe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy seized the Honduras-flagged fishery research vessel Hui Chuan,\u201d a maritime security official told us. \u201cThe Company Security Officer (CSO) reported that the vessel was taken by Iranian personnel while at anchor approximately 38nm northeast of Fujairah, UAE, at 05:45 UTC.\u201d<\/p>\n The Hui Chuan was operating as a \u201cfloating armory\u201d storing weapons for Chinese security firms who protect ships at sea from attack by pirates, the official told us. The ship is now \u201cbound for Iranian territorial waters,\u201d the UK\u2019s Maritime Trade Operations<\/a> (UKMTO) organization said.<\/p>\n The Honduras-flagged fishing research vessel Hui Chuan (IMO: 8316895), anchored off the UAE\u2019s east coast, is believed to have been seized by the IRGC Navy. <\/p>\n The ship is reportedly operated by the Chinese private security company Sinoguards as a floating armory. pic.twitter.com\/VlHpmkqFYw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Egypt’s Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n UPDATE: 8:06 PM EDT \u2013<\/p>\n During an interview with NBC News, Rubio was asked what Trump asked Xi when it comes to Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t ask him for anything,\u201d the secretary noted. \u201cWe\u2019re not asking for China\u2019s help. We don\u2019t need their help\u2026 Our position is very clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n NBC: “What exactly did President Trump ask President Xi for when it comes to Iran?”@SecRubio<\/a>: “He didn’t ask him for anything. We’re not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help\u2026 Our position is very clear: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” pic.twitter.com\/Hn7f3aqiUp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In a post on his social media platform responding to Xi\u2019s remarks that the U.S. is essentially a declining power<\/a>, Trump responded that the Chinese leader was referring to America under Biden and that things are much better now.<\/p>\n More interesting, however, is a hint Trump dropped about the future with Iran.<\/p>\n Among the accomplishments he claimed on Truth Social was \u201cthe military decimation of Iran (to be continued!).\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The House voted for a third time against acting as a check on President Trump\u2019s military powers in Iran, even as a growing number of Republicans express concern about the prolonged conflict, CBS News reported<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s vote on a Democratic resolution to rein in Trump\u2019s authority was 212-212, falling just short of a majority. Originally introduced on March 4, the measure as written<\/a> would have directed the president to remove U.S. forces from hostilities within 30 days of the start of the war, which began on Feb. 28.<\/p>\n The U.S. House voted 212-212 on a War Powers Resolution to restrict military action against Iran. The measure failed, needing a majority to pass. pic.twitter.com\/NcRDvUIFyA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n UPDATES<\/p>\n In a readout of the meeting in Beijing between Trump and Xi, the White House noted that the topic of the Strait of Hormuz came up in discussions between the two leaders.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two sides agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy,\u201d the White House posted on X. \u201cPresident Xi also made clear China\u2019s opposition to militarization of the Strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use, and he expressed interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China\u2019s reliance on the Strait in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was among those accompanying Trump, highlighted Xi\u2019s opposition to allowing Iran to impose tolls on ships transiting the Strait.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Trump raised the issue of Iran with China and it was important,\u201d said Rubio. \u201cThe Chinese side said they are not in favor of militarizing the Strait of Hormuz and are not in favor of a tolling system, and that\u2019s our position.\u201d<\/p>\n SECRETARY RUBIO: President Trump raised the issue of Iran with China and it was important.<\/p>\n The Chinese side said they are not in favor of militarizing the Strait of Hormuz and are not in favor of a tolling system, and that’s our position. pic.twitter.com\/9JYpbvztd8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Department of State (@StateDept) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The much-longer Chinese readout of the meeting <\/a>mentioned improving trade and a warning that the U.S. \u201cmust exercise the utmost prudence in handling the Taiwan question.\u201d<\/p>\n However, there was no mention of Iran or the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n While that doesn\u2019t mean these issues weren\u2019t discussed, readouts are messaging and this reflected the emphasis Beijing places on the paused war and its aftermath.<\/p>\n \u201cThe two heads of state exchanged views on major international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula,\u201d was about as close as the statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry came to addressing Iran.<\/p>\n Despite the Trump administration\u2019s stance that China opposes allowing Iran to impose tolls on shipping, Beijing is paying for transits, the Guardian claims<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tehran \u201csays it has reached a deal with China that has already allowed a large number of oil tankers bound for China to go through the strait of Hormuz since Wednesday night, and this has been made possible by China agreeing to limited charging, undercutting US opposition to such moves,\u201d the outlet reported. \u201cThe development suggests China has accepted Iran\u2019s assertion that the shipping rules in the strait have changed, with reports suggesting the cost will be in the region of $1 per barrel.\u201d<\/p>\n We cannot independently verify that and have reached out to the White House for details.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf7 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf3 Iranian media reported on Thursday that naval forces had allowed a group of Chinese ships to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz since the night before. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the strait since the outbreak of war with the US and Israel \u27a1\ufe0f\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/PVjGJ0TY7t<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 AFP News Agency (@AFP) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Trump pushed back on claims that China is working to arm Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cWe discussed it,\u201d he told Fox News host Sean Hannity. \u201cI mean, when you say \u2018support,\u2019 they\u2019re not fighting a war with us or anything. He said he\u2019s not gonna give military equipment. That\u2019s a big statement. He said that strongly. But at the same time he said they buy a lot of their oil there, and they\u2019d like to keep doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n HANNITY: Did you discuss China’s support for Iran with Xi?<\/p>\n TRUMP: We discussed it. Uhhhh. I mean, when you say ‘support,’ they’re not fighting a war with us or anything. He said he’s not gonna give military equipment. That’s a big statement. But at the same time he said they buy\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Lq677uoCfG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Trump\u2019s claim that China told him it won\u2019t give weapons to Iran followed The New York Times report <\/a>that Beijing was working to ship arms to Tehran.<\/p>\n \u201cChinese companies have been discussing arms sales with Iran, plotting to send the weapons through other countries to mask the origins of the military aid,\u201d the publication stated, citing U.S. officials.<\/p>\n The United States \u201chas gathered intelligence that Chinese companies and Iranian officials have discussed the arms transfers,\u201d the newspaper added. \u201cIt is not clear how many, if any, arms have been shipped or to what degree Chinese officials have approved the sales.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials briefed on the intelligence \u201chave reached different conclusions on whether the arms have already been sent to the third countries,\u201d according to the Times. \u201cBut no Chinese weapons appear to have been used on the battlefield against U.S. or Israeli forces since they began their war against Iran in late February.\u201d<\/p>\n The newspaper reported last month that <\/a>U.S. intelligence agencies had obtained information showing that China may have transferred shoulder-fired man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran. Intelligence also showed that China was considering<\/a> other shipments of the weaponry.<\/p>\n The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday pushed back on claims<\/a> that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> and the heads of Mossad<\/a> and Shin Bet visited the country<\/a> during the now-paused war with Iran. The denial is a strong public rebuke amid a growing relationship between the two nations that has seen Israel supply the UAE with Iron Dome<\/a> air defense batteries to protect against Iranian attacks. <\/p>\n \u201cThe United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE or receiving any Israeli military delegations in the country,\u201d the UAE Foreign Affairs Ministry posted on X Wednesday afternoon EDT. \u201cThe UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements. Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE.\u201d<\/p>\n The ministry added that the \u201cUAE calls on media outlets to exercise accuracy and professionalism, and to refrain from circulating unverified information or promoting misleading political narratives.\u201d<\/p>\n UAE Denies Reports Regarding Visit by Israeli Prime Minister or Receiving Any Israeli Military Delegation pic.twitter.com\/TRX9y5ZoVN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 MoFA \u0648\u0632\u0627\u0631\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u062e\u0627\u0631\u062c\u064a\u0629 (@mofauae) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Hours before the UAE announcement, Netanyahu\u2019s office claimed the Israeli leader did travel to the Gulf Arab nation, confirming a CBS News report<\/a> about the visit.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the midst of Operation \u2018Roar of the Lion,\u2019 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates and met with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed,\u201d the office posted on X. \u201cThis visit led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.\u201d<\/p>\n \u05dc\u05e9\u05db\u05ea \u05e8\u05d0\u05e9 \u05d4\u05de\u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05d4 \u05de\u05d0\u05e9\u05e8\u05ea \u05db\u05e2\u05ea:<\/p>\n \u05d1\u05e2\u05d9\u05e6\u05d5\u05de\u05d5 \u05e9\u05dc \u05de\u05d1\u05e6\u05e2 \u05f4\u05e9\u05d0\u05d2\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05e8\u05d9\u05f4, \u05e8\u05d0\u05e9 \u05d4\u05de\u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e0\u05d9\u05de\u05d9\u05df \u05e0\u05ea\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8 \u05d1\u05d7\u05e9\u05d0\u05d9 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d9\u05d7\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d0\u05de\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05e0\u05e4\u05d2\u05e9 \u05e2\u05dd \u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d9\u05d7\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d0\u05de\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea, \u05d4\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05d7\u05f3 \u05de\u05d5\u05d7\u05de\u05d3 \u05d1\u05df \u05d6\u05d0\u05d9\u05d3.<\/p>\n \u05d1\u05d9\u05e7\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d1\u05d9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e8\u05d9\u05e6\u05ea \u05d3\u05e8\u05da \u05d4\u05d9\u05e1\u05d8\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05d7\u05e1\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05dc\u05d0\u05d9\u05d7\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d0\u05de\u05d9\u05e8\u05d5\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea.<\/p>\n \u2014 \u05e8\u05d0\u05e9 \u05de\u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc (@IsraeliPM_heb) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Israel\u2019s N12 News chief political correspondent Amit Segal noted a \u201cfew striking details regarding the news of Netanyahu\u2019s visit to the UAE.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA covert flight reportedly took place while Israeli airspace was fully shut\u2014without leaks or detection,\u201d he noted on X. \u201cSources suggest a deal was reached on an Iron Dome shipment\u201d and \u201cUAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has publicly hosted Israeli leaders like Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid\u2014but not Benjamin Netanyahu. Until now, their contacts stayed behind closed doors.\u201d<\/p>\n Bennet and Lapid visited the UAE in 2021, as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister respectively.<\/p>\n A few striking details regarding the new of Netanyahu\u2019s visit to the UAE:<\/p>\n 1. A covert flight reportedly took place while Israeli airspace was fully shut\u2014without leaks or detection.<\/p>\n 2. Sources suggest a deal was reached on an Iron Dome shipment.<\/p>\n 3. UAE President Mohammed bin\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/An2kbqJrNC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The announcement from Netanyahu\u2019s office followed media reports on Tuesday about the visit to the UAE of two other high-level Israeli officials.<\/p>\n The Wall Street Journal reported that <\/a>Mossad chief David Barnea visited the UAE at least twice during Operation Roaring Lion to coordinate war efforts. Barnea reportedly flew to the UAE in March and April. In addition, Israeli media reported that<\/a> Shin Bet chief David Zini also visited the UAE to coordinate security efforts.<\/p>\n Certainly not surprising given the Abraham Accords and the more recent Iron Dome battery and miltary deployment to UAE by Israel. But 2 back to back visits by a Mossad chief amid a war speaks volumes. Important read by @AnatPeled1<\/a> & @summer_said<\/a> in @WSJ<\/a>.https:\/\/t.co\/i9BmyHNZ3p<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Behnam Ben Taleblu \u0628\u0647\u0646\u0627\u0645 \u0628\u0646 \u0637\u0627\u0644\u0628 \u0644\u0648 (@therealBehnamBT) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The back and forth over the potentially unprecedented wartime visit by three top Israeli officials to the UAE comes a day after U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicly confirmed that Israel sent the UAE an unspecified number of Iron Dome air defense<\/a> batteries and troops to operate them. News of the deployment was first reported by Axios last month<\/a>. Such an acknowledgement of direct Israeli military aid to an Arab nation is unusual in its own right.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udea8 WATCH: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee officially confirms: Israel sent the United Arab Emirates an Iron Dome system and a team to operate it. This happened because there are exceptional relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, based on the Abraham Accords. pic.twitter.com\/BgCkESt4Yl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n TWZ cannot independently verify any of the travel claims. However, Israel has historically been viewed as an enemy by the Arab world and direct cooperation in the form of a visit by its head of state could be considered controversial to say the least.\u00a0At the same time, things have changed dramatically in the region over the last decade or so, with Arab countries warming to relations with Israel. This has been spurred by the major economic development the region has seen as well as, at least to a degree, a common foe \u2014 Iran.<\/p>\n Perhaps the UAE is trying to appeal to a domestic audience or, as Israel\u2019s I24 News senior Middle East correspondent Ariel Oseran suggested on X, UAE is trying to distance itself from Netanyahu and his coalition, not Israel writ large. Maybe Netanyahu, for his own reasons, is trying to claim a level of relationship that doesn\u2019t exist, however that seems unlikely.<\/p>\n We may never find out for sure.<\/p>\n It is highly unlikely that Israel\u2019s PMO would issue a fake statement regarding Netanyahu visiting the UAE at such a sensitive time. <\/p>\n What is more likely is that Abu Dhabi is trying to publicly distance itself from Netanyahu on a personal level, a sentiment that I have personally\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/8laUSjOAc7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ariel Oseran \u0623\u0631\u064a\u0626\u0644 \u0623\u0648\u0633\u064a\u0631\u0627\u0646 (@ariel_oseran) May 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Senate on Wednesday blocked the seventh Democratic attempt <\/a>to prevent Trump from waging war on Iran. However, it was by the slimmest margin yet, indicating a growing unease in the legislature about the now-paused conflict.<\/p>\n The vote failed by a 49-50 margin, with all Democrats but John Fetterman of Pennsylvania supporting the measure.\u00a0For the first time, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined fellow Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky in breaking with Trump and voting with Democrats.\u00a0<\/p>\n This was the first vote on the War Powers Resolution since Trump bypassed the 60-day deadline to seek congressional authorization for Operation Epic Fury last month. You can read more about that effort in our story about it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, as we noted yesterday<\/a>, NBC News reported that the administration is considering changing the name <\/a>of the operation to Sledgehammer should hostilities resume.<\/p>\n Contact the author: howard@twz.com<\/p>\n Howard is a Senior Staff Writer for The War Zone, and a former Senior Managing Editor for Military Times. Prior to this, he covered military affairs for the Tampa Bay Times as a Senior Writer. Howard’s work has appeared in various publications including Yahoo News, RealClearDefense, and Air Force Times.<\/p>\n \t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lucas-drones-tfss.jpg\")
LUCAS kamikaze drones. (CENTCOM) <\/p>\n
“At sea, we destroyed 161 vessels in total across 16 classes of warships, effectively crippling the regime\u2019s ability to operate. We eliminated more than 90 percent of Iran\u2019s once-massive inventory of over 8,000 naval mines, with more\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/VmBwR8KIlM<\/a><\/p>\n