The United States has halted military strikes against Iran in an effort to de-escalate tensions and give diplomacy a chance, following two days of reciprocal airstrikes between Washington and Tehran. An American official confirmed the pause, stating that the U.S. military remains prepared to resume fighting if necessary.
Background of the Conflict
Despite a memorandum of understanding between the two nations, airstrikes were exchanged in recent days. The U.S. has intentionally paused attacks to avoid further escalation, while maintaining a target list as leverage, according to a U.S. official speaking to CNN. Fighter jets aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln remain armed, with pilots conducting drills in readiness for potential strikes.
Burial of Iran's Late Supreme Leader
Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried early Friday morning at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, following a week-long funeral procession attended by tens of thousands of mourners. The private ceremony included Khamenei's family, as reported by CNN. His successor, son Mojtaba Khamenei, has not made a public appearance since his father's death.
Israel's Stance on Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will remain in southern Lebanon "as long as necessary to ensure the security of our communities in the north." Speaking at a pilots' graduation ceremony on Thursday, Netanyahu warned that Iran aimed to arm itself with nuclear weapons to destroy Israel, and that Israeli operations, in coordination with American allies, were necessary to prevent "the threat of immediate annihilation" and danger to the entire Western world, according to ABC News.
U.S.-Israel Coordination
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Netanyahu, with the Israeli PM's office confirming that Trump updated Netanyahu on American moves in the Gulf and discussed continued coordination between the countries across various sectors, per CBS News.
