The Department of Defense on Saturday evening identified the six Air Force personnel who died when a KC-135 crashed in Western Iraq earlier this week. In a statement posted to the Pentagon website, the department identified the six as Airmen who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Five U.S. Air Force refueling planes ​were struck and ‌damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan ​air base in ​Saudi Arabia, the Wall ⁠Street Journal reported ​on Friday, citing two ​U.S. officials.

The crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, with the seven others killed in combat.

The Pentagon is moving additional Marines and warships to the Middle East as Iran steps up its attacks on the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. officials.

Approximately 2,500 Marines are being sent by the US to the Middle East, which might intensify the conflict with Iran and push US forces closer to the battle in the Strait of Hormuz.

Hours later, President Donald Trump said U.S. forces had "obliterated" military targets on Iran's Kharg Island - the primary terminal that handles Iran's oil exports - and warned that the island's oil...

The Secretary of Defense was responding to a CNN report that suggested the Trump administration was not prepared for Iran's effort to shut the Strait of Hormuz.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth went off on CNN at a press conference and gloated that, “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better!”