Live updates: Iran fires missiles across Gulf as war continues
Iran fired missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf, while Israeli and the United States hit targets across the Islamic Republic.
President Donald Trump said in social media posts there were no reports of Iran planting explosives in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil is shipped.
According to the Associated Press, U.S. said it took out more than a dozen minelaying Iranian vessels Tuesday to help prevent any attempt to close the waterway.
US commander says AI helped military hit more than 5,500 targets in Iran
10:45 a.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said that as a result of the U.S. strikes, including one on a "large ballistic missile manufacturing facility," Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks have "dropped drastically." The targets have included more than 60 ships, he said in a video posted to social media Wednesday.
According to the AP, Cooper also confirmed that the military was using "advanced AI tools" to "sift through vast amounts of data in seconds." He said these tools are enabling leaders to make smarter decisions faster but stressed that "humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot."
Trump keeps telling America he’s winning in Iran. He’s less clear in explaining how the war ends
10:30 a.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that President Donald Trump has cycled from calls for "unconditional surrender" to sounding inclined to an end state in which Iran trades one hard-line ayatollah for another.
Changing comments from Trump and his top aides are adding to the uncertainty of the 12-day-old conflict, which is affecting the Middle East and causing economic tension around the world.
U.S. Embassy in Baghdad warns of kidnapping threat, urges citizens to leave
8:15 a.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad urged U.S. citizens on Wednesday to leave Iraq, referencing the risk of attacks and kidnappings.
"There have been attacks against U.S. citizens and U.S. interests in Iraq, and Americans face risk of kidnapping," a statement obtained by the AP said. "American businesses, hotels frequented by foreigners, and other facilities in Iraq, including those with U.S. ties, have been attacked."
Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, triggering the ongoing war in the Middle East, Iran and Iran-backed Iraqi militias have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases and diplomatic facilities, energy and communications sites in Iraq, particularly in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region.
The AP noted that Iraq’s airspace is closed, with land borders open to cross into Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
"Americans should strongly consider departing via one of these overland routes if they believe it is safe to do so," according to the statement.
US Central Command says Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have ‘dropped drastically’
7:30 a.m. ET: In an X post Wednesday, US Central Command says Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped. "Since the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks have dropped drastically," the post said.
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted an area in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 11, 2026. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of the Iranian supr
Pentagon says about 140 troops injured in Iran
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The Pentagon said about 140 U.S. service members have been wounded in the conflict with Iran.
According to the Associated Press, the numbers are the first indication of the toll of injuries sustained by U.S. troops after retaliatory rocket and drone strikes from Iran that also killed seven soldiers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
RELATED: About 140 US troops injured in Iran so far, officials say
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an emailed statement to the Associated Press that "the vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty." Eight U.S. service members are currently "severely injured," Parnell added.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday during a news briefing that today will be the most intense day yet of U.S. strikes inside Iran.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Associated Press and FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.