ABCNEWS - US and allied forces kick off combat drills with Philippines despite US focus on Iran
The United States and the Philippines have kicked off of their largest combat exercises in an annual display of allied military might
NYTIMES (Neil MacFarquhar) - A Potent Threat in Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s “Mosquito Fleet”
Separate from the regular Iranian Navy, with boats that often go more than 115 miles per hour, it’s what a retired U.S. official calls a “disruptive force.”
ABCNEWS - What to know about 'ship spoofing' by Iran-linked vessel to breach the US blockade
Some ships linked to the Islamic Republic appear to be using deceptive methods known as "spoofing" to breach the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
WAR (U.S. Central Command Public Affairs) - U.S. Forces Start Mine Clearance Mission in Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Central Command forces prepared to start clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz as two Navy destroyers conducted operations.
DAILYCALLER (Mark Tanos) - Iran Warns US Navy Ships Entering Strait Of Hormuz
'Encourage the free flow of commerce'
JUSTTHENEWS (Nicholas Ballasy) - Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers make their way through Strait of Hormuz
This marked the first transit of such U.S. ships through the waterway since the beginning of the war with Iran
AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - U.S. warships cross Strait of Hormuz for first time since Iran war began
Several U.S. Navy ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a U.S. official told Axios. Why it matters: The move was not coordinated with Iran. It is the first time U.S. warships crossed the strait since the beginning of the war. - The operation was aimed at increasing confidence for commercial ships to cross, sources say. - It came as peace talks between the two sides kicked off in Pakistan. Driving the news: The reopening of the strait was a key provision in the U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal. - The narrow waterway off Iran's southern coast is vital to the normal functioning of the global economy. - For several days after the ceasefire was announced very few ships crossed. - A U.S. official admitted earlier this week that ships…
STRIPES (John Vandiver) - US fires record number of Tomahawks in Iran campaign, study finds | Stars and Stripes
The U.S. military has fired more Tomahawk missiles during Operation Epic Fury than in any other military campaign in history, a think tank report said.
JUSTTHENEWS (Misty Severi) - CENTCOM reports 200 American servicemembers injured in Iran conflict so far
CENTCOM also said the U.S. has struck over 7,000 targets inside Iran and damaged or sunk more than 100 Iranian vessels in Operation Epic Fury as of Monday.
AXIOS (Rebecca Falconer) - Calls grow for Strait of Hormuz ship escorts as Iran escalates attacks
There's "growing momentum to establish a naval protection system" in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran's military escalates attacks on commercial ships, Eurasia Group says. The big picture: U.S. Central Command warned "the Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping" and put lives at risk. - Officials reported at least five cargo vessels were hit in the region Wednesday. - At least four seafarers have been killed after two missiles struck a UAE-flagged tugboat that was last week trying to help an stranded container ship north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said . State of play: Nations are scrambling to get barrels moving. - Eurasia…