US Strikes Iran as Trump Wavers on Deal or War
CENTCOM begins defensive strikes in Iran after downed helicopter, while Trump questions Netanyahu's will to continue.
US Strikes Iran as Trump Wavers on Deal or War — The US Central Command announced it has begun conducting 'defensive strikes' in Iran, hours after President Donald Trump accused Iran of downing an American Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes mark a sharp escalation—yet Trump, in an ABC interview, also questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future, saying, 'I wonder if Bibi even wants to continue.'[^1] The dual signals reflect a White House torn between retaliation and deal-making. Iran's Deputy Parliament Speaker, Hamid Reza Babaei, threatened today that if the US and Israel continue to attack Iran, 'the Bab el-Mandeb Strait will become like Hormuz.' That warning, reported by Haaretz, echoes the earlier blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and suggests Iran may widen the theater of conflict. Meanwhile, a senior analyst told Maariv that Trump 'zigzags a lot,' expressing concern over his conduct. Trump is reportedly close to a decision on a large-scale military operation, but also speaks of a peace agreement with Iran. The tension between these paths remains unresolved. Israeli sources fear the green light for a strike might never come, as Trump cancelled a previous attack. The coming hours will test whether the US can calibrate its response without triggering a broader regional war. Zamir warns Iran as IDF casualties mount on Lebanon front — IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned Iran on Tuesday that Israel's recent airstrike was a precursor to a "much more significant and heavy" operation, speaking from the Northern Command.[^1] Zamir said the IDF is prepared to strike Iran again if it attacks Israel, while continuing to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.[^1] The warning came hours after CENTCOM announced the completion of retaliatory strikes against Iran early Tuesday, following the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.[^2] Meanwhile, the Israeli army admitted to 30 officers and soldiers killed and 1,291 wounded on the Lebanon front since March 2026, with 48 wounded in the last five days alone.[^3] Among the wounded, 75 soldiers are in serious condition.[^3] The Givati