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Trump says fired Pentagon strategist is going to have ‘big problems’
President Donald Trump suggested Thursday that Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, one of the Pentagon’s senior strategic planners who was fired by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over allegations of leaking classified information to journalists, is going to have “big problems.”
Trump told reporters ahead of his departure to a midterms rally in South Carolina that his administration is “very much looking for leakers.”
A Department of War official told Fox News that Sylvia leaked classified information to journalists about the Iran war, Russia’s war in Ukraine and other sensitive matters.
The official added that Sylvia failed three polygraph examinations related to alleged disclosures of classified information. The investigation has been referred to the Justice Department.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin and Morgan Phillips contributed to this post.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
16 mins agoIsraeli soldier charged with spying for Iran, leaking military secrets in exchange for crypto
An Israeli soldier was charged with passing military information to Iranian intelligence agents in exchange for cryptocurrency, Iran International reported Thursday citing Israeli security officials.
The soldier, who was arrested in September after an investigation maintained contact with Iranian operatives for roughly a year.
Authorities said the soldier provided information on military bases, troop readiness, and call-ups, including details of his own mobilization at the outbreak of the war with Iran in February.
Prosecutors alleged he photographed missile interceptors, military vehicles, and U.S. refueling aircraft at an Israeli airport, while also sharing details about fellow soldiers and commanders despite knowing Iranian handlers could target them for recruitment.
The soldier was also allegedly offered $200,000 to travel to Iran and instructed to install encrypted messaging apps.
Military prosecutors formally charged him with contacting a foreign agent and passing information to the enemy with the intent to harm national security, the outlet said.
1 hour agoExxonMobil, Chevron execs pull out of major Mideast oil summit over security fears: report
U.S. energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron pulled their top executives from next week’s flagship ADIPEC conference in Abu Dhabi, citing security concerns, Reuters reported Thursday.
Exxon Chief Executive Darren Woods and Chevron Upstream President Clay Neff were both set to attend the Middle East’s premier oil and gas summit before the cancellations, the outlet said.
The State Department also last week ordered some diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia, which has been facing nearby Houthi strikes.
1 hour agoTanker hit by projectile while leaving Strait of Hormuz, UK maritime authority says
A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while exiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
“A Company Security Officer has informed UKMTO that their tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile whilst completing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz,” UKMTO said in a statement.
The maritime authority also said there were no reported injuries to the crew or reports of environmental damage.
“Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO, whilst authorities investigate,” UKMTO added.
2 hours agoSaudi Arabia shoots down 2 Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh amid warnings across kingdom
Saudi air defense forces shot down two missiles fired toward Riyadh on Thursday by the Houthis, a coalition spokesman said.
“Air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Houthi militia towards Riyadh,” Col. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said in a post on X.
Earlier, civil defense authorities issued alerts warning of potential danger in Riyadh, Al Kharj and Najran, according to Reuters.
2 hours agoIran draws hard line on ending war, demands US accept 7 conditions before deal
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday rejected Washington’s diplomatic strategy and drew a firm line on negotiations, saying any agreement to end the war would need acceptance of Tehran’s seven conditions.
“Iran’s conditions have been repeatedly and clearly stated to the mediators,” Ghalibaf said on X.
“The carrot-and-stick approach has no effect on Iran. Progress can only be achieved once Iran’s seven conditions have been agreed upon,” he added.
3 hours agoSen. Murphy says it would be ‘insane’ to restart war against Iran after midterm elections
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Thursday that it would be “insane” for the Trump administration to resume the war against Iran after Election Day.
“Trump is reportedly planning to restart war with Iran after the election,” Murphy wrote on X. “Some of us have been briefed on the war plan. And while I cannot disclose any details, I can say this: the plan is insane. It will not achieve objectives and will set off a new cycle of escalation.”
Murphy shared a clip of him speaking Wednesday at The Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., where he said a resumption of U.S. military action against Iran “would lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction to our commitment to the rule of law.”
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
4 hours agoShip seen ‘on fire’ in Strait of Hormuz was involved in ‘maritime security incident,’ UKMTO says
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said Thursday that a ship previously spotted “on fire” in the Strait of Hormuz has sunk.
The incident was reported about nine nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman.
“Regional authorities have identified the vessel as a dhow, which was involved in a maritime security incident, igniting a large fire onboard causing the dhow to list and sink,” the UKMTO said in a post on X.
“Local authorities have confirmed that the crew have been safely evacuated,” it added.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
4 hours agoIran has created secret network to get military hardware, explosives past US barriers: report
The Iranian regime has used a vast financial and military network to import at least $2 billion in hardware, explosives and trucks around the U.S. naval blockade and sanctions since the beginning of last year, according to a Reuters investigation.
The news agency reported Thursday that more than 5,000 agencies form the network, which has helped Tehran acquire weapons components involved in the creation of missiles and drones, and heavy-duty trucks that can serve as missile launchers, among other materials.
Reuters said it based its investigation on Iranian bank and government records, corporate filings and import data. Some of the agencies, it added, are linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and they operate through frontmen and foreign shell companies, who purchase items for Iran using profits from illicit oil sales.
The material flows into Iran by cargo ship across the Caspian Sea from Russia, by trucks from Central Asia and planes from China, Reuters also reported.
A Treasury Department spokeswoman told Reuters that the U.S. “has severed the regime’s economic lifelines.”
“While the regime may continue its desperate attempts to evade our powerful sanctions, fund its military and weapons programs, and access foreign currency, we are always 10 steps ahead,” she reportedly added.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
6 hours agoUK is ‘doing everything we can’ to reopen Strait of Hormuz, Burnham says
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Thursday that the United Kingdom is “doing everything we can” to get the Strait of Hormuz opened during the U.S.-Iran War.
“We are doing everything that we can to de-escalate the situation, to support the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Burnham said, noting that he raised the issue with President Donald Trump last week, according to Reuters.
“But, of course, it’s without any nuclear capability in Iran,” Burnham reportedly added.
The remarks come as U.S. Central Command is enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports in the region.
“More than 3,000 commercial vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz with support from CENTCOM forces over the last six months,” CENTCOM said earlier this week.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
6 hours agoCENTCOM rejects Iran’s claim that it captured a US drone near Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command pushed back Thursday after Iran claimed it captured an American surveillance drone near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state television reported Thursday that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in an “electronic warfare operation,” detected and identified the MQM-170 Outlaw drone, and took control of its control systems before landing it in Iranian territory, according to The Associated Press.
It did not say when the drone was allegedly seized.
“In the past weeks and months, the IRGC has repeatedly lied out of desperation, and today is no different,” U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, CENTCOM’s spokesperson, told the AP.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
7 hours agoShip seen ‘on fire’ in the Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said Thursday that a ship was spotted “on fire” in the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident was reported about nine nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman.
“The Master of a third-party vessel has reported sighting another vessel on fire,” the UKMTO said.
“Status of crew is unknown,” it added. “There is no damage assessment or environmental impact report at present.”
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
8 hours agoHegseth fired top military planner over severe misconduct, alleged leaks, official says
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen Brett Sylvia, a key war planner in the Pentagon, alleging that Sylvia met with journalists to leak classified information, the Department of War said.
A Department of War official said Sylvia, despite having the title of Directorate for Strategy, Plans, and Policy at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, otherwise known in the military as the J5, was not a central planner for Operation Epic Fury against Iran, a campaign that is under the responsibility of U.S. Central Command and its leader, Navy Adm. Brad Cooper.
Sylvia is being investigated for leaking classified information about the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and more, the official told Fox News.
The official alleged Sylvia started meeting with journalists outside the Pentagon to leak classified information because of a Pentagon media policy mandating that journalists have escorts while inside the building.
The official also said the investigation into Sylvia remains active and has been referred to the Department of Justice, noting Hegseth took immediate action and fire Sylvia in order to protect national security.
The Atlantic first reported the firing and said Sylvia did not respond to a request for comment.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this post.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
8 hours agoCENTCOM releases photo of F-16 fighter jet flying over the Middle East
U.S. Central Command released a photo Thursday showing an Air Force F-16 fighter jet flying over the Middle East.
More than 50,000 U.S. service members are stationed across the region, U.S. Central Command spokesperson and U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins told Fox News Digital earlier this month.
“They are highly vigilant, they are highly dedicated and they’re serving with courage and bravery. And they’re doing so alongside our regional allies and partners,” Hawkins said. “It shouldn’t be forgotten that we continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Gulf allies and partners to help them defend their airspace from unjustified and unwarranted attacks from Iran, and we have been highly successful in working together. And will continue to do that.”
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
9 hours agoIRGC spokesperson calls on CENTCOM to ‘prove’ Strait of Hormuz is cleared of mines
Brigadier Gen. Hossein Mohebi, the spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) called on U.S. Central Command Thursday to “prove” that the Strait of Hormuz has been cleared out of mines.
In a post on X yesterday, CENTCOM said, “Over recent days and weeks, Iranian-controlled media have reported Iranian claims that commercial vessels are hitting sea mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. These claims are FALSE.”
“All internationally recognized primary transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of sea mines by U.S. forces and remain so,” CENTCOM said, adding that thousands of commercial vessels have “safely used the transit lanes and continue today.”
In response, Mohebi told CENTCOM on Thursday to “prove your Hormuz mine-clearing claim with independent evidence, not statements!”
“The reality of the Strait of Hormuz is shaped in the sky, on land, and at sea; not in cyberspace and America’s media war rooms,” he added in a post on X.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this post.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
10 hours agoTrump denies directing Vance to launch Iran peace talks amid reports of letter to Tehran
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he did not direct Vice President JD Vance to initiate peace negotiations with Iran, amid reports that Vance had sent a letter to Tehran to kick-start new talks.
When pressed on the matter ahead of traveling to a rally in Ohio and Trump replied, “No.”
“No, they need help with medical supplies and various things,” he told reporters.
“He asked me what I thought. I said, if you want to do that, that’s okay. Basically, it’s getting supplies in to help people that are not well,” Trump clarified.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance had sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an effort to revive peace negotiations.
10 hours agoIran signals potential shift in US standoff as Mojtaba Khamenei calls for new approach
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday described Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s directive to end the current state of “neither war nor peace” between Washington and Tehran as an important step in shaping Iran’s future, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Khamenei had reiterated Iran’s conditions for ending the war with the U.S. during a meeting with his security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, a day earlier.
The meeting focused on reinforcing national unity and moving beyond the current state of uncertainty and tension. According to the Mehr News Agency, Khamenei described the situation as a “crossroads.”
As mediation continues, Iran has said the U.S. must lift its blockade of Iranian ports before peace talks can begin. Washington wants Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program.
10 hours agoMilitary options being prepared for Trump after he says ‘anything’s possible’ with Iran: officials
Official and military sources told Fox News on Wednesday that movements are being made in the Middle East to give President Donald Trump options if he decides to resume strikes against Iran.
The development comes after The Wall Street Journal reported this week that “the U.S. has told several Gulf Arab countries to be prepared for a short, intense military campaign after the U.S. midterm elections,” citing people familiar with the conversations.
When asked by a reporter about the possibility of the U.S. striking Iran after November’s midterms, Trump said late Tuesday, “I can’t tell you that… but anything’s possible.”
The Wall Street Journal report said an additional aircraft carrier strike group and Marine expeditionary unit are being repositioned, while the U.S. is bringing a Patriot missile defense system from Texas into Israel to help the Middle Eastern ally bolster its defenses and U.S. forces in the region are restocking their munitions, among other moves.
The sources told Fox News that the movements being reported are to make sure the U.S. military is ready if asked to do something by Trump, but there is no indication the president has made a decision yet.
Trump has telegraphed possible likely targets in Iran, such as its Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site and Kharg Island, although Trump also has called off major strikes six times since July.
Yesterday’s Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.
Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this post.
Posted by Greg Norman-Diamond
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