Live updates: Israel dismantles six Iranian ballistic missile launchers, CENTCOM says US forces control skies
Smoke and fire rise from the site of airstrikes in a central area of the Iranian capital Tehran on March 6, 2026. Fresh strikes rocked Iran and Lebanon on March 6, as Israel vowed to escalate to a new phase in the Middle East war that has spiralled r
U.S. Central Command said Thursday that American forces "control the skies by launching from the sea," as it released new video showing its effort "to eliminate the Iranian regime's mobile missile launch capabilities." CENTCOM added that the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group continues "around-the-clock operations" in support of the ongoing Operation Epic Fury.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper releases statement
11:42 a.m. ET: U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper released a statement on the CENTCOM X account in response to Iran targeting civilians in 12 countries. The post was shared by War Secretary Hegesth with a comment:
"Attacked 12 different countries." But sure, tell us more about how they were gonna negotiate. They were never gonna MAKE A DEAL
Trump seeks 'unconditional surrender' from Iran
10:15 a.m. ET: In a Truth Social post Friday, President Trump said there will be no deal with Iran "except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"
"After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before," Trump wrote. "IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!)." Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Russia helping Iran with intelligence to target US military, report says
8:51 a.m. ET: According to a report from The Washington Post, Russia is providing Iran with intelligence to attack the U.S. military in the Middle East. It's the first sign that the conflict is expanding to other U.S. adversaries, even if indirectly.
Israel says it has struck late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's underground military bunker
7:30 a.m. ET: The IDF says that it has dismantled former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s underground bunker in Tehran.
"The underground compound was created by the regime as a base for advancing military activities and its extremist ideologies against the State of Israel and the Western world," the IDF said. "It spanned multiple streets in the heart of Tehran and contained numerous entrances and meeting rooms for senior members of the Iranian terrorist regime."
The fortified compound was directly under where Khamenei and other regime leaders were situated on Saturday morning when almost 50 of them were killed in under 50 seconds during the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a senior Israeli official told Fox News.
IDF: 6 Iranian ballistic missile launchers dismantled before launches toward Israel
6:30 a.m. ET: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Friday that the Israeli Air Force dismantled six Iranian ballistic missile launchers "just minutes before they were intended to be launched toward" Israel on Thursday.
The action was guided by the Intelligence Directorate, the IDF said, adding that three advanced Iranian defense systems were also dismantled.
"The combined effort to deepen the impact on the Iranian regime’s firing and defense capabilities has been conducted systematically since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion," the IDF said.
CENTCOM releases footage of strike on Iranian drone carrier, says forces 'aren't holding back'
U.S. Central Command on Thursday released footage of a strike on an Iranian drone carrier, which it said became engulfed in flames.
"U.S. forces aren't holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy," CENTCOM wrote on X.
"Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire," the post continued.
CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper also mentioned the strike in a Thursday briefing at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida.
State Department helping Americans leave Middle East countries
The U.S. State Department announced it is helping Americans from various parts of the Middle East evacuate, as the conflict with Iran continues.
The department issued guidance to Americans in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
"The U.S. government is ready to help Americans leave the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available," the department said on X.
U.S. Embassy in Kuwait shut down
The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait shut down after retaliatory Iranian strikes on the country, becoming the second American diplomatic mission to fully halt work as the war in Iran escalates.
Kuwait is also where six American soldiers were killed by an Iranian drone Sunday.
The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries.
House rejects Iran war powers resolution
The House narrowly rejected a war powers resolution Thursday to halt Trump’s attacks on Iran, an early sign of unease in Congress over the rapidly widening conflict that is reordering U.S. priorities at home and abroad.
The Senate rejected that same resolution the day prior.
While the tally in the House, 212-219, was expected to be tight, the outcome provided a clarifying snapshot of political support for, and opposition to, the U.S.-Israel military operation and Trump’s rationale for bypassing Congress, which alone has the power to declare war.
US and Israel attack Iran
The backstory:
On Feb. 28, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Tehran, and President Donald Trump said the U.S. was starting major combat operations against Iran.
The strikes killed the country’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other high ranking officials, throwing its leadership into question and raising the risk of regional instability.
Big picture view:
Trump said there were four objectives for the operations:
- Destroy Iran’s missile capabilities
- Wipe out its naval capacity
- Stop the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon
- "Ensure that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders."
This is the second time in eight months that the Trump administration has attacked the Islamic Republic during talks over its nuclear program.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press and previous reporting by FOX Local. This story was reported from Orlando.