Middle East

According to Syria's Interior Ministry, an investigation found that the ISIS cell financed its activities through assassinations and armed robberies targeting gold merchants in Daraa province.

While CNN reported that repair efforts were identified at sites in Iran's Parchin and Pickaxe Mountain, imagery of sites at Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz did not indicate any restoration efforts.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue 'talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump asserted.

Iran has told Washington that recent attacks on shipping in the strait were from "an errant part of their system," one senior official said.

The UN shipping agency urged countries to reject Iran’s claim of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and its attempt to control international traffic through the vital waterway.

Iranian armed forces launched attacks on US military infrastructure in Gulf states on Thursday following US strikes on Iran's southern provinces, further eroding a three-week-old ceasefire.

The warning came after US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering strikes on Iranian energy and desalination infrastructure if tensions escalate.

DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS: Netanyahu’s campaign against selling F-35s to Ankara reflects a growing conviction in Jerusalem that Turkey is shaping up to be Israel’s principal long-term challenge.

“We’ve proved that we stand with the US. I’m not sure it will be of interest to the US that Israel will join on this - but, you know, we realize that we need to stretch our muscles,” a source said.

The night passed without military action by either the US or Iran, but tensions remained high across the Middle East following the escalation in recent days.