A video making the rounds on the internet seemingly captures the moment Iranian missiles struck an air base in Jordan, resulting in the tragic deaths of two American soldiers. In the aftermath of this assault on Friday, another service member is still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, a separate incident claimed the life of a U.S. soldier in Iraq on Saturday, underscoring the dangerous reality soldiers face, even without being directly stationed in Iran.
On Monday, U.S. gas prices surged once again, hitting an average of $4 per gallon. Concurrently, the price of Brent crude oil exceeded $90 a barrel, intensifying the already pressing global energy crisis triggered by escalating conflicts in the region.
Here’s what’s happening now:
How the Tate brothers’ extradition process could play out
Staunch supporters of former President Trump are currently in federal custody, where bail is a rarity in the context of international extradition cases. Their attorney has indicated that they are likely to remain behind bars for the immediate future.
A U.S. district judge is set to evaluate whether they satisfy the criteria for extradition, yet the final call lies with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although the State Department has some flexibility to reject requests, historically, nearly all British extradition requests have been approved since the enhanced treaty was ratified in 2007.
The Tates flew to Florida on a private jet last year despite a U.K. extradition request from Romania, where they also face charges. Romania’s foreign minister said at the time that a Trump administration official had expressed interest in the brothers’ legal case.
Trump said he knew “nothing about” the case when asked if his administration had pressured Romania to release the Tates.
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Tate brothers to appear in Miami court. UK wants them extradited
Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate in Miami on Monday after they were arrested to face rape and sex trafficking charges in the United Kingdom.
Their attorney Joseph McBride said the charges are “filth and slander” and that he’s confident the extradition request would be denied.
The Tates’ social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny has made them among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities.
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Why Yemen seeks to close Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea access
There were few details, but the deputy head of the Houthi media office, Nasruddin Amer, said on X that the Bab al-Mandeb strait will be closed to Saudi vessels in response to what he called Saudi Arabia’s “unjust blockade on Yemenis for over 10 years.”
The Houthis are key to Iran’s regional influence and they have a large stockpile of drones, but several Houthi members previously told the AP that the group’s weapons stockpile is running low after its attacks during the Israel-Hamas war. The Iran war has further impeded the flow of weapons, said the officials, who at the time spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk to the media.
Gulf nations warn of incoming Iranian fire
Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens Monday afternoon to warn of a possible Iranian fire, while Kuwait said its air defenses were responding to incoming Iranian missiles and drones. No damage was immediately reported in either country.
Senators want answers on ICE policies
Dozens of Democratic senators and Maine’s Independent Sen. Angus King want more details on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s vetting practices and vehicle pursuit policies following more deaths in ICE shootings.
In a letter spearheaded by King and sent to the Department of Homeland Security, the senators listed new measures to increase accountability at the agency tasked with carrying out immigration enforcement.
They said ICE should immediately start wearing uniforms or vests that clearly identify them as “ICE” instead of the more generic “POLICE” or “POLICE ICE.”
The senators also want to know whether ICE considers records of domestic violence or abuse when vetting new recruits. In Maine, the AP reported that the ICE officer who opened fire and killed a man from Colombia had a history of violent behavior detailed in family court records.
As student loan defaults surge, Trump is making borrowers pay more
Defaults are reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to pay.
The numbers have spiked since payments came due again following a lengthy pause intended to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, around 9.5 million people — 1 in 5 federal student loan borrowers — are in default, meaning their wages or Social Security payments could be garnished. The Trump administration has held off on such involuntary collections for now.
And still another wave of defaults could be coming. The Trump administration eliminated the most generous income-driven repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, as part of its overhaul of the federal student loan system. Millions who had been enrolled in SAVE now must pay more each month.
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Yemen’s Houthis announce a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia
A Houthi military spokesperson described the embargo on Monday, effective immediately, as an “eye for an eye” response.
Attacks by the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen last week damaged Sanaa International Airport and Abha airport in Saudi Arabia, threatening a truce that began in 2022.
Imposing an embargo could put new pressure on Saudi Arabia, which is sending oil through pipes to the Red Sea as a way of avoiding the chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz.
Houthis attacked more than 100 ships over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. It’s unclear whether the Houthis will keep up that level of attack now against Saudi Arabia.
US launches ninth night of Iran strikes
The U.S. military’s Central Command said Monday’s strikes targeted “Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and communications networks.”
Iranian authorities on Sunday said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest rounds of U.S. strikes. Since the war began on Feb. 28, 17 U.S. service members have been killed.
The U.S. military said the latest service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.
“We hit them very hard again tonight,” Trump said. “And we did that in honor” of the soldiers killed.
Another vessel is ablaze in the strait as Iran targets tankers
As the strikes began, a vessel caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile near the coastline of Oman, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The crew abandoned the vessel, which was adrift and still ablaze hours later, the UKMTO said.
The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. The Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the strait.
US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates
The United States targeted Iran with a new round of airstrikes early Monday after announcing the death of another American service member, hitting areas around a city believed to house underground missile bases. Iran responded by attacking Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, and Kuwait.
Step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war. Last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled. Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people.
Meanwhile, benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict. An average gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. rose to $4, putting more pressure on American wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.
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