US forces struck Iran for the eleventh consecutive night as US CENTCOM sent aircraft to hit military sites, including command centers, maritime assets, and drone facilities.

Iranian media reported explosions in Bushehr, home to the Iranian nuclear power plant.

CENTCOM explained that the strikes are part of an effort to degrade the regime's ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Spokespersons say the waterway remains open to commercial traffic, with the military supporting the safe passage of about 900 ships carrying 450 million barrels of crude oil.

In Washington, Trump met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. The meeting followed rare direct talks between Lebanon and Israel after months of fighting with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group.

The president indicated that Washington is committed to helping Lebanon.

"And we're going to help it. We're going to help it a lot. As you know, there's a Hezbollah problem," he stated.

Trump also addressed Iran, pointing out that Iran wants negotiations because they are "getting decimated."

He cautioned, "Until they're ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest in meeting."

He added that the US will soon target the area near Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground site near one of Iran's primary nuclear enrichment facilities.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Israeli intelligence believes Iran has moved thousands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium into tunnels there.

"We'll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily," he noted. "We follow the material. That's where the action is."

The president also warned Iran's Houthi allies against disrupting shipping in the Red Sea, warning that the US will "take care of business" if the group attempts a blockade.

The conflict has also taken the lives of American service members. The Pentagon identified Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old father from Fayetteville, North Carolina, who was killed in Iraq on July 19th.

Officials also confirmed that Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was killed in last week's attack on a US base in Jordan.

The president ... attended the dignified transfer of the fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, on Wednesday. (Screengrab image: via C-SPAN)

"I'll be going to Dover for something that I feel is, it's a great honor for me to do it," he said.

At the same time, the administration has approved a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia, worth tens of billions of dollars.

The agreement would give American companies a key role in Saudi Arabia's nuclear development and could allow uranium enrichment on Saudi soil. The deal does not include Saudi normalization with Israel, raising concerns that it could accelerate a regional nuclear race.

Inside Iran, authorities are escalating pressure on Christians. The regime has seized Tehran's historic St. Peter Evangelical Church, the country's last remaining Presbyterian church, declaring the property, residences, and two schools to be state-owned.

Several Christian families have fled after threats from security forces.

Secretary Hegseth Asks for More Money to Fight Iran

Back in the US, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced strong criticism over the war from Democratic senators yesterday. Hegseth is estimating the war has now cost $37.5 billion, and he's seeking another $67 billion to continue funding the conflict and to build up diminished weapons stockpiles.

Senate Democrats expressed outrage at the war and the new request. Sen. Gary Peters, D-MI, said, "Trump administration efforts have been an utter and complete failure to win this war at this point."

Hegseth replied, "Your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless."

Sen. Peters fired back, "I used the word failure for their leaders. You, sir, are the failure."

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, later accused Hegseth, saying, "You are asking for unlimited money for bombs when people can't feed their families. And I don't know how this administration intends to defend those decisions to the American people."

He replied, "Not unlimited bombs, senator. I'm asking for the right bombs at the right time to ensure we can deter our adversaries into the future."

Separately, the Pentagon is also asking for $1.5 trillion for the annual Defense budget. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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