A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union, following the two murders of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in less than a week’s time, documents the widespread use of violence by federal agencies.
This report was released on Thursday and examines more than 1,200 operations involving ICE agents or other law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with ICE, across eight states. The period covered is from January 20,25, when Trump assumed office, to the end of 2017.
These findings confirm the fears that many immigrants have repeatedly raised as Trump continues his aggressive campaign of deportation: violent and forceful immigration encounters do not occur infrequently. Nearly a third (33%) of all incidents in this research included the use or threat of violence.
Naureen Sha, Director of Policy and Government Affairs for Immigration at the ACLU as well as one of its authors said: “You are seeing that the use of force is becoming the standard tool of immigration enforcement agents.”
This analysis took into account encounters reported in the news, as well as press releases issued by schools, hospitals, community groups and others. This nonprofit civil rights group compiled these accounts, recording the specifics of the enforced actions and who took part.
Seth Stoughton is a professor of law at the University of South Carolina. He says, “My initial thought was that it would be embarrassing for the ACLU to gather, aggregate, analyze and share this information instead of Homeland Security.”
Living in a democratic society means the government only does a great job when the citizens say so. “And that means a degree of transparency in the way government operates,” said he.
What is the use of force by immigration officers?
Officers used force in a variety of ways. Immigration agents were seen pushing or tackled people more than 400 different times by researchers. Researchers documented the use of weapons by officers, including rubber bullets, chemical irritants and tasers.
The report also revealed dozens of incidents where police used tactics which are often prohibited or restricted by local agencies, such as pressing the knee against a victim’s neck.
ICE and DHS have not responded to any questions regarding the conclusions of the report.
The report details many interactions between ICE agents and members of the public that took place in common places, like bus stops, supermarkets, or along the roads. ACLU recorded hundreds of incidents involving children, U.S. Citizens, protesters bystanders journalists and other innocents.
Researchers stressed in the report that they included all federally identified immigration enforcement activities and were not only limited to those incidents which had already been alleged as illegal. Their data, on the other hand, is a snapshot of a few states. Many immigration operations are not recorded.
ICE’s enforcement activities have been intensified in the past year-and-ahalf since Trump retook the presidency, thanks to an influx of funding from the federal government, according to experts. This has increased the chances of violent confrontations.
Shah: “I am really concerned that there will be more killings.” Shah says, “They have a culture that is based on abuse and impunity. People are put under enormous pressure to meet unprecedented arrest quotas. And now there’s a tradition of intimidation and force.”
Traffic stops are increasing
Law enforcement experts point out, in addition to the increase in encounters with immigration officers, that ICE’s approach has changed.
Jillian Snider is a lecturer and retired New York City Police officer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She says that ICE used to be more focused in their operations and not as frequent.
Snider: “When the police conduct targeted enforcement, they identify areas where they are aware of a person who is wanted.” We’ve noticed an increase in car stops. This is concerning if the car stop training has not been provided.
Both Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and Joan Duran Guerrero were killed by ICE in Texas and Maine this month. They both died in their vehicles. Neither was the target of an ICE-targeted operation.
DHS stated in an earlier press release that Duran Guerrero attempted to run and the officer who shot him was afraid for “public safety.”
In a press release regarding Salgado Araujo’s death in Texas, ICE claimed that Araujo had “weaponized” his car. However, witnesses have disputed this account. Both shootings were carried out by officers who did not wear body cameras.
Snider says that most agencies won’t allow an officer to fire if there is no immediate threat of physical violence or injury.
Researchers documented in the ACLU’s report dozens of incidents where immigration officers boxed other peoples’ cars and broke their windows.
Stoughton is a retired police officer. “When we observe a pattern of seemingly consistent errors, such as the poor manner in which officers conduct traffic stops, the way in which they rush up to vehicles and take or maintain positions on the vehicle’s travel path, or how they quickly break out the windows, it may be an issue of training, but also supervision,” he says. Why are supervisors not identifying counterproductive and problematic behaviors?
In Florida this week, a third victim died when he was hit by a truck as he ran from ICE agents during a traffic check.
Experts in law enforcement say that during a traffic stop officers must navigate through a number of complicated considerations. Is the car marked? The driver is he boxed? Is the driver able to drive the vehicle with the door open? Are there any other passengers in the car? Have the instructions given to the driver been contradictory? The outcome of a situation can be affected by the choices you make.
Marc Brown, the director of Excellence in Policing and Public Safety at University of South Carolina, says, “From what they did and from what I saw, they don’t appear to be familiar or understand how they can operate in this type of environment.”
Brown, a retired police officer and instructor who worked at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center between 2019 and 2024, said that during this time, ICE agents received an “abbreviated” version of defensive tactics. This included the techniques they can use to help de-escalate a situation, such as traffic stops.
You cannot expect your officers to perform a new mission without adjusting your training and policies. Brown warns that you’ll have significant gaps.
It is not clear how ICE’s decision to stop non-urgent stops will be implemented. In a NPR statement, ICE said that it will not be discussing law enforcement tactics but is constantly evaluating procedures in order to ensure the safety of its officers.
In a Wednesday post to Truth Social, President Trump encouraged the continuation of ICE traffic stop.

Halemaumau’s crater has seen lava fountaining for the first time in 51 years since Kilauea began its current, on-again-off-again eruption on December 23, 2024.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said that the fountaining started at 8:45 a.m. at the Halemaumau Crater at the summit of the volcano, and reached heights up to 160 feet. In a press release, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said that large lava flow is being fed by north vent fountains onto the crater’s floor.
Scientists said that winds were blowing 5-10mph in an east-northeasterly direction. This suggests volcanic gases and volcanic materials may have been distributed west-southwest from Halemaumau.
Tephra, including ash, may blow in the direction communities such as Pahala or Naalehu and Highway 11 to the southwest of Volcano. The higher level winds come from the south, with the potential for tephra to be dispersed in communities north and adjacent to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. ”
Residents were urged to “prepare your home, by closing all windows and (water) catchment systems if needed.”
The National Weather Service of Honolulu released a special statement Tuesday, warning of “different levels of ash and Pele’s Hair, as well as other light tephra, may fall to the ground downwind from the eruption.” The smaller particles may travel further from the site of eruption and affect nearby communities.
The NWS warned that if you plan to travel or live near the Kilauea Summit, it is important to stay up-to-date on current weather and volcanic conditions. Be prepared to act if necessary, including disconnecting your water collection systems. Please follow all instructions from National Park Service or the County of Hawaii. “Be aware of road and park closures”
HVO scientists stated that lava activity from all 51 episodes has been contained to the summit of the crater, since the eruption started in late 2024. Each episode has lasted for one day or less.

Washington — While the U.S. war with Iran resumes after a weeks-long truce has collapsed, Pentagon officials also look at another hot spot much closer to their home: Cuba.
According to several U.S. government officials familiar with the discussion, military planners in the past few weeks have considered a variety of possible options to combat the island. These include an air attack led by the Army, involving thousands U.S. troops, and carried out solely by the 101st Airborne Division.
Officials who spoke with CBS News on condition of anonymity about national security issues stressed that these briefings do not indicate that either President Trump or Pentagon has decided to conduct an operation.
A military operation in Cuba could cause a major problem for the Pentagon, as the U.S. military has already diverted a lot of attention to other areas and many of their most important offensive capabilities have been deployed elsewhere. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State has stated that the U.S. would prefer a diplomatic solution for transitioning to a technocratic government willing to implement economic reforms. This process is stalled despite increased financial pressure on the Cuban government and GAESA – the conglomerate controlled by the military, which the United States calls an 18 billion dollar trust fund. Rubio stated in a statement on July 11, that the Cuban regime, its corrupt elites, and their adherence to “morally bankrupt Marxist ideologies”, continue to resist reform.
State Department has announced it tightened financial controls around Cuban state-owned companies that funnel revenue “to the regime” and paramilitary groups that suppress the Cuban population, such as rapid response brigades.
Late last month, the U.S. military held a concept-of-operations briefing to discuss early-stage military planning options for select missions that could be carried out, the officials said. The Defense Department and Combatant Commands regularly develop briefings for various contingencies. They examine the mission objectives, number of soldiers needed, sequence of events and logistical concerns, as well as associated risks.
Pentagon moved aircraft, intelligence assets, and other resources to the Middle East in order to continue operations against Iran. CBS News spoke with officials who said it is unlikely that the United States will shift its focus to Cuba at this time, due to the recent restart of military activities against Iran.
Sources familiar with the situation say that the war against Iran exposed friction behind the scenes between Trump and Hegseth. Hegseth is an Army veteran who was a former Fox News anchor. Although Mr. Trump at times has praised Hegseth, and other military operations, during his second-term, he’s privately expressed frustration over the progress of Operation Epic Fury. He believes the administration has missed an early opportunity to avoid a long conflict by refusing to accept an Iranian proposal that would have limited its nuclear program.
CBS News reported that two U.S. government officials said Hegseth had urged for a more aggressive approach towards Iran, in spite of reservations expressed by Gen. Dan Caine. The president is now increasingly unhappy with the campaign, which has grown more complex and prolonged than anticipated at the beginning of the conflict back in February.
Hegseth, Caine and others have irritated Mr. Trump during the U.S. – Israel-led war on Iran when they mentioned the limits of military operations. One source said that some in the Defense Department, as well as the Interagency Team, were also frustrated with Navy Adm. Brad Cooper who is the Commander of U.S. Central Command. They complained about how he exaggerated what his military can accomplish against Iran.
Anna Kelly, White House spokesperson, stated that the President “has been extremely proud” of Hegseth’s and Cooper’s “leadership throughout Operation Epic Fury which destroyed Iran’s missiles and production facilities as well as its navy and air defenses.” The recent U.S. attacks against Iran, she said, prove that “the U.S. can attack anywhere and anytime without Iran being able to do anything about it.”
Joel Valdez, the acting Pentagon Press Secretary said that “We don’t comment upon hypothetical military operations” and also added that they wouldn’t make any comments on Hegseths’ private conversations with President Trump.
Cuba presents new challenges to security. CBS News reported previously that Cuba acquired unidentified attack drones. On June 10, a visit to the U.S. Hegseth acknowledged indirectly the threat that could be posed to Guantanamo.
It would not be wise for Cuba’s government to attempt to obtain or gain access to weapons capable of reaching this base or America. He vowed that they would invite a confrontation they do not want and could not endure.
Cuba and the U.S. are involved in a dispute about the facility. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Fidel Cuba refused to pay the check, saying that the 1903 lease was invalid.
Hegseth admitted that the U.S. presented military options to Trump but suggested a possible more peaceful relationship. The U.S. hoped to be soon “a friend to the leadership of Cuba’s government.”
CBS News reported on May 29 that U.S. officials had been studying how Cuba might respond to a possible U.S. attack, while the Trump administration was accusing Havana strengthening its ties with Russia and China. In its 2026 threat assessment, the intelligence community focuses on Cuba primarily as a enabling environment that allows larger geopolitical rivals to thrive rather than an independent strategic danger. The March assessment does not identify Cuba as having military capabilities which threaten materially the U.S.
John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, visited Havana in May for a meeting with top Cuban officials. He used the trip to convey the message that the U.S. is prepared to increase economic and security engagements with Cuba if Havana makes “fundamental changes.”
CBS News reported that Ratcliffe brought one of the U.S. agents who were involved in the mission in which the U.S. captured the then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro back in January. He made a big point to introduce the paramilitary as the person who killed the Cubans in Venezuela.
The Justice Department charged Raul Castro, 95 years old, and five other people with charges dating to 1996 when two U.S. aircraft were shot down. This indictment led to speculations that Castro could be arrested as part of a similar operation to Maduro’s grabbing and dragging. CBS News reported that multiple sources said it would prefer the Castros to leave the island on their own, and referred to Trump’s meeting with Raulito Castro’s grandson.
It was not an overnight event that the administration began its confrontation with Cuba. The White House’s confrontation with Cuba did not happen overnight.
Cuban policy after Trump’s return in office
After returning to his office in 2025, Trump reversed Biden’s last foreign policy decision by reinstating Cuba as a sponsor of terror. This move again limited Cuba’s ability to access international finance, and it signaled the return of “maximum-pressure” strategy from Mr. Trump’s first term.
Rubio, who was a member of the Trump Administration, expanded this approach by reinstating restrictions on transactions with Cuba’s GAESA conglomerate. Rubio argued that Cuba’s armed forces, not its private sector, control much of the hard currency economy. The State Department then increased visa restrictions on Cuban overseas medical missions. They accused Havana’s government of exploiting nurses and doctors through an export labor system run by the Cuban state, which Cuban officials maintain is voluntary.
The Associated Press reported in June, that Deputy Foreign Ministry Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said the Trump Administration was trying to discredit the thousands of Cuban physicians working all over the world and also cut off a vital source of income for the island nation.
Cuba continued to cooperate with the United States despite rising tensions. Cuba also accepted U.S. flights of deportation under migration agreements. The Trump Administration formalized their approach by mid-2025 through the National Security Presidential Memorandum, which expanded travel restrictions, financial transactions and remittances, as well as strengthened enforcement of the embargo.
The campaign intensified earlier this year, when Trump called Cuba an “unusual threat,” and announced sanctions against foreign countries and oil companies that supply the island. Other actions include sanctions against senior Cuban officials and penalties targeted at Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel, among others.
The measures were taken at the same time as Cuba’s economic crisis, which was marked by fuel shortages. blackouts, and demonstrations. Cuban officials blamed U.S. sanction, while Trump’s administration cited internal mismanagement.

Washington – Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett and others urged Congress to increase funding for protection of justices who face an increasing number of threats. Kagan warned that “threats are very near” to some high court members.
Kagan and Barrett appeared before House and Senate Subcommittees in rare, back-to-back testimony to discuss the Supreme Court budget request for fiscal year 2020. The new fiscal year begins on October 1. The testimony was given just a few weeks after the Supreme Court wrapped up its last term and handed down decisions, including landmark rulings in immigration, voting, executive powers, and Trump’s attempt to limit birthright citizenship.
Supreme Court seeks more than $228 millions from Congress, a rise of over $20 million. According to the budget, the Supreme Court Police is requesting an extra $14.6 million as part of its funding request. This would provide six additional agents for each justice. This money will also be used to cover travel expenses for the justices when they are away from Washington, D.C.
Barrett and Kagan stated that each justice has between four to eight security officers assigned as part of his or her security detail. However, this number may be increased if the member of court faces a specific threat, or is attending more public events.
Kagan informed lawmakers that recent increases in court budget were “almost exclusively” due to security costs, as the Supreme Court took on residential security from the U.S. Marshals Service. Marshals Service.
She said: “For many of us, these threats are very real, and we all live in the fear that they could happen again.” As the Chief Justice has stated, the members of the Court continue to adjudicate cases as they see fit, without fear or favour.
Kagan stated that the Supreme Court Police anticipates a 38% rise in threats by 2026. According to Marshals Service, “security incidents” of concern for federal judges increased by 57% in fiscal 2025. According to data from the Marshals Service, there were 370 threats against judges in this fiscal year as of July 1. The Marshals conducted 512 inquiries. The Marshals Service reported that there were 564 threats against judges in the past fiscal year.
Susan Collins (a Maine Republican and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee) said, “There is an increasing danger of being a Supreme Court Justice these days. It’s shocking to me to hear some of the rhetoric coming from officials who are on either side of the aisle. They should know better to not make personal or political attacks about the judiciary, let alone the court.”
In 2020, she cited remarks from Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, who said to Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and others, “you’ve unleashed the wind and will pay for it.” Trump also launched personal attacks on Supreme Court Justices after the court ruled against his sweeping tariffs. President Trump said Gorsuch, Barrett and other members of the majority were “an embarrassment for their families.” The president has called some justices “weak and stupid” and “bad,” as well as calling them “fools, lapdogs, for RINOs, radical left Democrats, and idiots.”
Kagan stated that these statements were “really unhelpful” regardless of who made them and what political party they belonged to. They’re harmful to the security of justices and not suitable for a coordinated branch of government.
She said that criticizing the rulings of the Supreme Court is “fair play,” but cautioned, “intimidation” was a completely different matter. When politicians of all stripes try to intimidate justices and judges to do what they want rather than things they dislike, then we have really crossed the line.
In recent years, sitting judges and Supreme Court members have faced a torrent of threats. CBS News found that 126 cases in 2025 were brought about by threatening communications, and twelve of these cases were brought because menacing messages had been sent to judges.
After the leak in May 2022 of an unfinished Supreme Court opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade protesters gathered outside of the homes of conservative justices including Barrett. In June of that year, a Californian man was arrested with a knife, handgun and other tools outside Kavanaugh’s Maryland home.
The prosecution said that the defendant had intended to murder three Supreme Court members and had studied their addresses. In April 2025, the individual who had been arrested under Nicholas Roske and now uses Sophie Roske pleaded guilty to trying to kidnap or kill a Supreme Court Justice. She was sentenced for more than 8 years.
Barrett told House and Senate Members separately about receiving a bulletproof jacket after the leaked decision overturning Roe V. Wade, and about having to respond to questions about the vest from her son at the time of 12 years old.
She said, “I never thought that doing this service would put me in a position where I’d have to explain to my kids what a protective vest is and why it was necessary to wear one.”
She also claimed that she had been the victim of “swatting”, which occurred about six weeks earlier. Barrett stated that her teenage son was able to see police cars in the street after a false call of “raised voice” and gunshots.
She said that the Supreme Court Police who had been stationed at her home met with the local police to explain it was “a false alarm.”
She said that federal judges in the United States, across all of the judiciary including the Supreme Court continue to work without fear. However, the level of threat is high.
She said that several judges including Barrett have been victims of anonymous “pizza-doxxing,” in which they received pizzas delivered to their home. They are being sent under the name Daniel Anderl. He is the son of U.S. district judge Esther Salas, who was killed by an angry lawyer at her New Jersey residence in 2020.
Barrett explained to senators that threats are intended to intimidate, or to perhaps punish the judge for a decision the sender of the threat did not like. They’re also meant to warn the recipient of the threat to avoid doing it again in the future. It’s difficult to see anonymous delivery messages sent by Judge Salas in his son’s name as anything but an intimidation and influence tactic.
The Supreme Court’s security was a priority for lawmakers, who were ready to increase its resources.
Rep. David Joyce is an Ohio Republican and the chair of the House Subcommittee. He said that judicial officers must be “able to perform their duties without having to fear for either their own safety or safety of their families.”
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland’s top Democrat, stated, “With a deeply polarized country, and with increasingly violent rhetoric directed towards judges, Congress needs to provide adequate funding in order to guarantee the safety of judicial staff.”
The Supreme Court wants to spend $6.5M on a screening facility for visitors outside the courthouse, similar to that at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Budget documents indicate that roughly $2.3 million will be allocated to cybersecurity.
Kagan and Barrett answered questions from Capitol Hill about the Supreme Court’s operating budget request, the code of conduct it will adopt in 2023 and the number of cases and temporary relief requests made by the interim docket. This docket is also called the “shadow”, emergency, or shadow docket.
High court’s handling of shadow docket cases has been criticized, in part because it was asked by the Trump Administration last year to implement the second term policies of the President. Lower courts also indicated that they had difficulty applying the Supreme Court orders.
Kagan, however, said that the Supreme Court “has gained more experience” over the last year in dealing with these requests and explaining its decisions in a thorough manner.
She told the lawmakers, “We must recognize at least some times, that there may be a need to obtain additional information. We have therefore issued opinions, sometimes majority opinions, sometimes dissenting ones, in response.”
She acknowledged that there is still room for improvement.
Kagan stated that the Supreme Court “attempted to do better” in cases of importance by asking for additional briefs, and having oral arguments. She cited the dispute in which Mr. Trump attempted to remove Lisa Cook as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that Cook could continue to serve in her position while she continues her legal challenge against her removal.
Kagan responded to a question from Rep. Mark Pocan (a Democrat in Wisconsin) about the shadow docket by suggesting that the rise in emergency applications could be due to the fact that some parties had been successful in securing financial relief as their cases proceed.
She said, “People can see there’s a chance we could grant some relief. So why not submit a petition?”
Justices would often give testimony to Congress. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, justices testified before House and Senate committees at least one time every year between 1960 and 2011. Their participation in the past years has decreased.
Kagan and Justice Samuel Alito, members of the Supreme Court, last responded to questions in a House hearing in 2019, which focused on the budget request for the court. Justices Stephen Breyer, the late Justice Antonin Scalia and Justices Stephen Breyer last appeared at a Senate Hearing in 2011.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister warned Iran that if the US-Iran truce breaks down and Israel is attacked “this would be an entirely different situation”.
Netanyahu told the Negev Conference at Dimona that “you cannot count on silence if you are attacking us.” Don’t count on another run. It won’t be a repeat, which was powerful enough. It will be an entirely different and much more impactful event. Dimona is the location of the conference.
Iran attacked Israel for the last time on 8 June after Israel Defense Forces targeted Hezbollah’s Beirut headquarters. Israel had been preparing for an even larger attack on Iran, but President Donald Trump’s decision to downplay Iran’s missile attacks and declare a ceasefire prompted a change of heart.
Today, the new Iranian authority tasked to oversee passage through the Strait of Hormuz announced that hundreds of non Iranian vessels had sought authorization from it in the past few weeks.
The authority did not provide a specific number, but said that “most of these vessels received transit authorization and coverage”, without giving an exact figure. CNN is unable to independently verify Iran’s claim.
Earlier this summer, Iran established the PGSA to control the flow of vessels through the strait and formalize the claim that it has sovereignty over the area through which the majority of oil from the region is exported.
Tehran had insisted that the waterway was only open to ships who coordinated their passage via PGSA with Iranian authorities before declaring the strait closed over the weekend. Iranian authorities blamed “movements” by US forces in the area for the recent closure.
Donald Trump, President of the United States, said yesterday that he had warned the ship owners not to work with the PGSA. The waterway is open with or without Iran.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on the weekend it has closed the Strait of Hormuz after it fired a warning shot to a vessel that was attempting an unauthorized crossing of the waterway.
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), which is overseen by US Navy, announced hours later that “the southern route” of the Strait of Hormuz – the stretch of coastline which hugs Omani territory – remained open to both directions of traffic.
Washington and Tehran continue to contradict each other about the Strait of Hormuz.
It is a major route used to ship crude oil from countries rich in oil, such as Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, into the rest of world. The waterway is home to Exclusive Economic Zones for both Muscat and Tehran.
The United Nations says that a country has the “sovereign right” to exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources in the water within its EEZ.
According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, “ships of any state, coastal or landlocked, have the right of innocent transit through the territorial Sea.”
It says that a coastal state shouldn’t “impede the innocent passage” of foreign vessels through its territorial sea, except for specific scenarios. UNCLOS states that it may take “the necessary steps” in its territorial waters to stop passages which are not innocent.
After US President Donald Trump pledged to reinstate a blocking of Iranian vessels in the strategic waterway, and to impose a cargo surcharge of 20% on other ships, the United Kingdom reiterated today its position that it should be reopened “without tolls” or charges.
Trump announced yesterday that America would be the “guardian of the waterway” and charge shippers commercial 20% of their value to compensate for the US securing it.
After Trump’s comments, yesterday, the International Maritime Organization stated that passage through the strait should be “free of tolls or charges in accordance with the international law.”
After President Donald Trump’s announcement yesterday, the US military would “stop Iran’s customers or ships from entering or departing” Strait of Hormuz.
What is a blockade?
Blockades are a form of economic war as well as kinetic warfare.
According to the Newport Manual on the Law of Naval Warfare, a blockade is “the seizure of contraband and the destruction or capture of enemy property at sea.”
The manual states: “These methods prevent an enemy from gaining economic benefits and revenue through its exports, as well as the advantages of imports which support their war effort.”
For a blockade to be considered legal, it must adhere to certain guidelines, such as:
The ship affected must receive warnings.
The US needs to have ships and planes that can enforce the law.
The treatment must not be biased, and it cannot affect the ships of one nation or another.
Although civilians cannot be solely targeted, harming them is allowed.
The government cannot block neutral ports or a strait like Hormuz which Trump said was open for international shipping not related to Iran.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO), today confirmed that two tankers were hit by missiles as they transited the Strait of Hormuz along the southern route.
UKMTO informed CNN that the two vessels – who first reported separate incidents yesterday- were close to one another at the time the attacks.
It did not identify the ships nor who was responsible for their destruction. The confirmation came after United Arab Emirates reported overnight that Iranian missiles had hit two UAE tanks in the southern portion of the Strait.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, said that it had “struck” two “rogue” supertankers in the waterway.
Tehran insists that ships should use the designated routes in the north to cross the Strait. However, an increasing number of vessels are now passing closer to Omani shores, which threatens Iran’s control over this waterway.
US President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain was “on the lists” of assets Washington considers targeting at this phase of conflict.
A senior Iranian security source told CNN today that Iran will deliver a devastating response if Trump follows through on his threat.
Pickaxe Mountain is also known as Kuh-e Kolang in Farsi. It’s located in the central part of Iran, about one mile south-west of Natanz. In 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations declared it as an upcoming facility for assembling centrifuges to make nuclear fuel.
CNN reported in February of this year that Tehran had been re-building its missile and nuclear production sites, prior to the US-Israeli strike on Iran.
The Institute for Science and International Security, ISIS, has analyzed high-resolution satellite images from February 10,2026. They show that Iran is continuing to strengthen the tunnel entrances of the complex underground carved out in Pickaxe Mountain.
ISIS claimed that Pickaxe Mountain, which was still months away from the start of the conflict, was “largely open, accessible, and undergoing construction.” It also said it did not believe that there were any “facilities that are ready to operate” or enriched uranium.
Satellite images taken in April and May of this year show “a constant movement of vehicles around the construction site,” indicating that the work is progressing.
This tunnel complex doesn’t appear to be operating or important to Iran yet. It suggested that this could explain why the United States and Israel have not attacked the site yet.
This report was contributed by CNN’s Mostafa Salm, Farida Alsebai and Gianluca Meszzofiore.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned Britain for criminalizing the support of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the United Kingdom and for classifying it as a threat to national security.
The IRGC, along with the Iranian Army, are responsible for defending Iran’s territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as its national security, the Ministry said today on Telegram.
The ministry’s spokesperson described the UK decision as “a petty and provocative act which violates international laws.”
In a press release, the British Government said that the designation is still subject to approval by parliament and would punish supporting or aiding the group with up to 14-years in prison. The British government said that those who commit espionage or sabotage on behalf of the group could be sentenced to life in prison.
In a press release issued yesterday, British Prime Minister Keir starmer stated that the authorities had already taken actions against individuals linked to Iranian or Russian networks in Britain.
We have taken strong action against Iranians, their operatives or networks and Russians who are targeting our country. The new powers make it much easier to arrest and prosecute anyone who is doing dirty work in Britain.
In recent days as the fighting between Iran and the US has re-emerged, at least two vessels have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, killing many people.
The US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the US would act as a “guardian of the waterway” and charge commercial shippers a 20% fee on the total value of their goods to compensate the US for providing “safety and security in this volatile part of the world”.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway bypassing Iran and Oman is used to ship crude oil from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Since the beginning of the conflict the strait remains a flashpoint, especially after the US and Israel airstrikes on 28 February effectively shut it down.
After the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last month, ships began traveling through the Strait, but at the weekend Tehran closed the waterway once again. Washington insists otherwise.
Iran controls the northern part of the Strait. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the strait used to be a critical oil chokepoint, with 20 million barrels per day of oil flowing through it. This is about one fifth of the daily production of the world.
Some producers have discovered alternative export routes, such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. However, 10-12 millions barrels of oil remain unable to reach global markets. About one fifth of the global trade in natural gas liquefied comes through this strait, mostly from Qatar.
The global oil price rose sharply Tuesday after the US-Iran ceasefire collapsed and the US military threatened to resume their naval blockade against Iranian ports.
Brent crude, a global benchmark for oil, rose 4.8% before the US market opened to reach $87 per barrel, which is its highest price since June 12th. WTI (the US benchmark) was also up, rising 3.6%, to almost $81 per barrel.
Once again, the status of the Strait of Hormuz is in question. It was through this waterway that one fifth of all the oil transported before the war. Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. President Donald Trump said that the US will become “guardian of the Strait” and charge commercial shippers 20% on the value of cargo to Washington DC in exchange for its protection.
US Central Command (USCENTCOM) announced Monday it would resume its naval blockade of ships that enter and leave Iranian ports at 4 pm. ET Tuesday. US initially imposed a two-month blockade from mid April, which helped push the oil price skyward.
US stock futures point to a mixed opening, with Dow, S&P 500, down by 0.2%, 0.1% and respectively. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, however, is up by 0.4%.
Early afternoon, European stock markets are trading lower. Stoxx Europe 600, the region’s standard index, fell 0.5%. Germany’s DAX (down 0.5%) and France’s CAC (down 0.5%), respectively. Asian markets ended the day mainly higher.
A retired colonel estimated that the US might run out of vital munitions if it uses between one third and fifty percent of its arsenal in the Iran War.
Mark Cancian is a retired Marine Corps Colonel and Defense Analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
According to CNN and analysts, the US military employed thousands of missiles to launch long-range precision attacks and defend itself against hostile attacks in the initial phase of the Iran Conflict.
We have fired over 1,000 Patriot missiles in the current conflict. Allies from the Gulf also use a large number. Cancian said on CNN Newsroom that Ukraine is eager to produce more.
Patriot, a missile defense system for the US Army is equipped with interceptor missiles, launchers and radars. According to the US Department of Defense, this system is over $1 billion in cost and produced only 600 units per year.
Cancian stated that the demand for Patriots would result in long waits on new orders. If you ordered another Patriot now, it would probably take four to five years for you to receive the order.
IRIB, Iran’s national broadcaster, reported that five explosions could be heard in Bandar Abbas today, located on Iran’s southern coast.
Yesterday, the Fars News Agency semi-officially reported that the province government said a projectile had hit Bandar Abbas’ western portion.
Separately the semi-official Fars News Agency in Iran reported today that explosions were heard in Bushehr, a port city located further west in the Gulf as well as in Choghadak, a city in the province.
The Iranian state news agency, Islamic Republic News Agency, reported that Ehsan Jhaniyan, Bushehr’s deputy for political and safety affairs, claimed four places in the city were hit by enemy projectiles around noon local time.
A senior source told CNN that Iran would deliver a “devastating” response if US president Donald Trump follows through on his threat to attack Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain.
The source stated that “if Trump follows through on his threats we will respond with a devastating reaction, the cost of which will be paid both by American troops and his regional allies.”
In an interview with “The Hugh Hewitt Show”, Trump said that Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain (known in Farsi by Kuh-e Kolang) was “on the List” and would be “likely” targeted soon.
Source: US claim that nuclear activity is taking place on Pickaxe Mountain at Pickaxe Mountain, according to the source.
The source stated that Iran “would not back down” from its commitment to defending the Iranian people’s rights in the Strait of Hormuz.
The source stated that it would make no difference whether Trump decides to strike Pickaxe Mountain, or not.
Washington and Tehran are at odds over whether the Strait of Hormuz is still open or closed after Iran announced it “closed” on the weekend. The waterway has been a key factor in Iran’s negotiation leverage.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, which is under the US Navy’s supervision, said that the southern route through the Strait remained available for both directions on Sunday following the announcement by Tehran.
US Central Command reaffirmed this message later, saying that the waterway is “open for all vessels” and insisting Iran “doesn’t control the Strait.”
Trump also said that the Strait was open to the United States, telling CNN: “As far as we are concerned the chokepoint is not closed.” Later on, he added the United States will become the “guardian of the Strait” – for a price.
The Iranian authorities have also reaffirmed their position and stated that the passage of ships is “not feasible” because of the recent movement of US military forces.
According to Iranian State Broadcaster IRIB, yesterday the Iranian army spokesperson stated that the military will not “even give the slightest amount” when it comes the Strait of Hormuz.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO), today, reported that a tanker had been hit by a rocket while it was transiting through the Strait of Hormuz along the southern route that follows the coastline of Oman.
Yesterday, maritime authorities reported the first missile strike. The UKMTO has confirmed that the incident which took place 13 nautical miles southeast (around 15miles) of Limah in Oman is currently being investigated.
UKMTO reported yesterday that another tanker has reported being struck by a “unknown projectile”, 40 nautical miles northeast (around 46 mile) of Qalhat in Oman. The authority advised vessels to “transit with caution” and to report any suspicious activities to UKMTO.
These reports are coming as tensions increase in this critical waterway through which approximately one fifth of all oil and LNG supplies flow. Tehran claimed to have struck overnight two “rogue” supertankers, claiming that the vessels ignored Iranian warnings.
Saudi air defenses intercepted on Monday a ballistic rocket launched by Yemeni Houthis, who are backed by Iran. A Saudi spokesman confirmed this. The Houthis had accused Saudi Arabia earlier of attacking an airport in Yemen’s capital, warning that the attack would bring to an end the years-long truce.
Since the beginning of the US-Iran war, the Houthis have repeatedly warned that they may take steps to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southernmost end of Red Sea.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Saudi Arabia has diverted millions of barrels of oil there in order to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis had launched rockets at Israel, and also targeted ships in the Red Sea in October 2023 after Israel started its war against Hamas.
CNN’s Sarah Tamimi and Aida Karimi contributed to the reporting. Tim Lister. Anna Cooban. Nadeen Elbrahim.
After multiple Iranian attacks against vessels, the Strait of Hormuz has been thrust back into the limelight. The US announced that it will reimpose a blockade on ships traveling to or from Iranian ports via the waterway.
Blockade: US forces will begin the blockade at 4 pm. US Central Command reports that ET is today. Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum to end the war before the original blockade, which lasted between April 13 and June 18th.
Trump proposed that the US charge 20% for the protection of ships crossing the Strait. Trump did not provide any details on the fee, its application, or how it will be enforced. Experts told CNN that the strait, which is a waterway of international importance, is a place where ships are entitled to free passage. The fee could be so high, however, that it would discourage any party from paying.
Rubio’s remarks: The Trump Administration has said previously that ships shouldn’t be required to pay any tolls to anyone to pass through the Strait. Last month, Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, repeatedly denounced any idea of charging tolls in the Strait. He called it “unworkable,” and “not possible.”
Iran’s response. Iran’s top diplomatic official mocked Trumps proposal and insisted that Iran should instead be collecting fees. “20% is obviously too much.” “We will be fair,” said Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister.
Reaction at the global level: According to international law, passage through this strait should be free from any charges and fees.
The markets react to Trump’s statement: oil prices rose dramatically. Brent crude rose by 7.1%, to $81.40 per barrel. US oil surged 7.2% higher to $76.50. Both prices are at their highest since June 15th.