President Donald Trump has intensified the United States’ military response against Iran following a series of incidents involving commercial vessels in the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Reports from the White House suggest a readiness to extend the military actions for an extended period, potentially lasting days or weeks unless Tehran agrees to de-escalate.

Some of Trump’s aides have reportedly dubbed the campaign with the informal moniker ‘Operation B**** Slap,’ as mentioned by the New York Post.

The term, officials disclosed to the newspaper, has been circulated covertly in both discussions and electronic communications, though it is not recognized as an official title by either the White House or the Pentagon.

Behind closed doors, it is understood that the length of these intensified military efforts hinges substantially on Iran’s actions in the forthcoming days.

Trump has made clear he has little appetite for allowing further attacks on international shipping to go unanswered, particularly after Iran targeted multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.

‘He still wants this thing to be over. But if Iran is shooting at ships, he’s not just gonna sit there and do nothing,’ a source close to the White House told the Post.

Another former White House official told the paper that Trump’s decision-making has become increasingly personal as tensions mount.

‘Trump is not coordinating with anyone… he’s going with his gut,’ the former official said.

The president’s latest military push marks a sharp shift from the fragile diplomatic efforts that had followed months of fighting.

Trump declared this week that both the three-month ceasefire and the more recent memorandum of understanding with Tehran were effectively finished. 

He warned Iran’s leaders they could face attacks on critical infrastructure, a renewed blockade and even the seizure of Kharg Island if hostilities continue.

His increasingly combative rhetoric has also caught attention inside Washington.

On Wednesday, Trump branded Iran’s leadership ‘scum,’ ‘liars,’ ‘loco’ and ‘sick,’ language that is said to have surprised some senior officials, although a former White House official said there was little disagreement with his tougher approach.

‘This is all Trump, exactly as he likes it,’ the former official said. ‘[It is] almost impossible to tell what his next move is until he makes the decision himself.’

While the colorful nickname has circulated among some senior advisers, several administration officials emphasized it is purely informal and should not be confused with the military’s official operational titles.

According to the Post, some sources familiar with internal discussions claim to have never heard the phrase used.

Even as the military campaign intensifies, Trump has continued to leave the door open to diplomacy.

Officials said the president has preserved a range of options – from sustained military action to renewed negotiations involving Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and first son-in-law Jared Kushner should Iran seek fresh talks.

Meanwhile, the fighting has continued to expand on the ground.

Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that during the second consecutive night of US strikes, American forces targeted a rail bridge near the Turkmenistan border, severing a key transportation corridor linking Iran with China and Russia.

Tehran responded on Thursday by launching missiles and drones toward US military installations in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan, according to Iranian officials. 

Those countries later said their air defenses intercepted the incoming projectiles.

The latest escalation follows a series of attacks earlier this week in which Iran targeted three commercial ships traveling along the US-preferred shipping route off Oman’s coast rather than the route promoted by Tehran.

Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning from a stop in the United Kingdom, Trump insisted the United States had delivered an overwhelming response.

‘We just hit them very hard, and I’d say we hit them 20-1. Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20. We did a little something today, but it was really retribution for last night. They hit actually three boats, not two,’ he told reporters.

The president also argued Iran’s military position had deteriorated significantly.

‘We’ve already won militarily. They have very little left. And they want to make a deal so badly. They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly. I just don’t know if they’re worthy… I don’t know that they’re going to honor the deal, that’s the problem.’

Trump suggested Iran’s attacks on shipping reflected a leadership acting irrationally.

‘They’re sort of crazy, to be honest with you. They’re sort of crazy. They’re a little bit out of control, but they want to make a deal, badly,’ he said.

There has been little public indication from Tehran that it is preparing to soften its position.

During funeral events for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, mourners carried large banners calling for Trump’s death.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also condemned Trump’s rhetoric, accusing the US president of resorting to inflammatory language.

‘Iranians… do not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action,’ Araghchi said on Wednesday.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued his own warning as the confrontation deepened.

‘Let me put it plainly: if you strike, you’ll get hit,’ he said on Thursday. ‘Don’t flail around pointlessly, or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with ‘Iranian arrangements,’ not American threats.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for further comment.

A man from Florida, who reached out to law enforcement claiming he could provide details about a murder from 1987, found himself under arrest and charged with that very murder, officials revealed on Thursday.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of 70-year-old Gary Edward Glowacz on Wednesday, linking him to the death of Melissa Ellison, who was just 20 years old at the time of her murder.

Authorities stated that Glowacz reached out to them on Wednesday, expressing a desire to share information regarding Ellison’s demise.

Investigators held discussions with Glowacz and secured an arrest warrant following the interview.

He was booked into the Duval County Jail on charges of murder and burglary with battery.

Officials celebrated the arrest, which comes nearly four decades after the case went cold.

“Television shows condition us to believe that homicide cases that are not solved within the first 48 hours will not be solved,” Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said during a news conference. “That is patently false.”

“While his arrest cannot fill the enormous void left in the hearts of Melissa Ellison’s loved ones, I hope that this arrest is another step in the healing process,” he added.

Police responded to a home on Colejean Road at about 4:40 a.m. on Dec. 28, 1987, after receiving a report of a deceased person.

Ellison’s body was found by authorities in her bed with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma, according to police.

Investigators said Ellison’s roommates checked on her after hearing her toddler crying on the living room couch.

The sheriff’s office thanked First Coast Crime Stoppers, the State Attorney’s Office, Project Cold Case and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the investigation.

A group of eight Apache helicopter pilots, who captivated an audience of beachgoers with an exhilarating display during a Fourth of July celebration, have been suspended by the South Carolina National Guard. This decision has triggered backlash from lawmakers, who believe these pilots deserve praise instead of punishment. 

The pilots’ impressive low-altitude flight at the Salute from the Shore event was captured on camera and quickly became a viral sensation online. The footage shows the helicopters roaring along the coastline of South Carolina while beach visitors below energetically cheered and waved. 

The South Carolina National Guard announced that it is currently evaluating the “flight profile” of the pilots, emphasizing that their suspension is purely a “routine, non-punitive safety measure” rather than a form of discipline.

“These Soldiers remain in good standing with the [South Carolina National Guard] and are continuing their regular ground duties,” the Guard communicated in an official statement. “Our highest priority is safety.”

In reaction to the pilots’ suspension, Representative Russell Fry (R-SC) has called for the reinstatement of their flying privileges without delay. 

“The [South Carolina National Guard] needs to drop this review and restore these pilots immediately,” Fry wrote on X. “Millions of Americans applauded the incredible display during Salute to the Shore flyover while expressing complete admiration for them & appreciation for our country and military.

“These pilots should be celebrated, not sanctioned.” 

In a separate post, Fry announced that he has written to Guard, formally urging the outfit “to drop this meaningless, bogus investigation and swiftly allow these pilots to return to their flight status as soon as possible.”

“It is shameful that a frivolous complaint turned into a suspension for these brave pilots after putting on one of the best Salute From the Shores in history,” Fry fumed.

Echoing Fry, Republican state Rep. Tim McGinnis called the suspensions “ridiculous” in a Facebook post, suggesting that the flying ban could leave the Guard  ill-prepared in the event of an emergency

“These pilots helped thousands along our shores celebrate our country and the greatest fighting force in the world,” McGinnis wrote.

“They need to be reinstated and allowed to fly immediately to maintain constant readiness.” 

McGinnis noted that he has asked the South Carolina National Guard and the governor’s office for a reason why the pilots have been grounded.  

A source close to one of the eight pilots told local outlet ABC15 that they were notified of their suspensions as soon as they landed.

The source suggested that somebody submitted a complaint or concern about the flyover with the South Carolina National Guard, triggering the investigation and suspensions. 

Earlier this year, the US Army suspended two Apache helicopter crews after they popped over to Kid Rock’s Tennessee mansion during a training run and hovered near the singer’s pool – to Rock’s delight. 

The suspensions were lifted after War Secretary Pete Hegseth intervened.

“No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth wrote in a social media post.

Newly released bodycam footage and 911 audio have shed light on the heartbreaking suicide of Darrell Sheets, known from the series Storage Wars. The grim details surrounding his death offer a glimpse into the tragic event that unfolded earlier this year.

On April 22, 2026, Sheets’ distressed girlfriend, whose identity remains undisclosed, called the Lake Havasu City authorities to report his death. The 67-year-old took his own life with a gun at his Arizona residence, a fact underscored by the heart-wrenching audio recordings now made public.

The 911 call, acquired by TMZ, captures the moment Sheets’ girlfriend, her voice filled with shock, said, “I think he just killed himself … I just heard a gun go off.” The chilling urgency of her words is both haunting and poignant.

When pressed by the 911 operator for more details, she admitted she “didn’t want to look,” conveying the heartbreak that hit as reality settled in.

Encouraged to focus on her breath by the operator, Sheets’ girlfriend found herself grappling with disbelief, expressing how she “[couldn’t] believe” what had just transpired. During the call, she revealed that Darrell was in his home office while she had been in the garage when the incident occurred.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Lake Havasu City Police Department for further information on the story. 

Sheets’ girlfriend said that the reality TV star had not previously threatened to take his own life.

However, she did not that Sheets had been ‘frustrated’ by a ‘lack of sleep’ and family troubles, describing the situation as ‘terrible, terrible s***.’

At that point, Sheets’ girlfriend told the operator that she had seen flashing lights on the horizon as first responders arrived to the scene on April 22.

In bodycam footage TMZ obtained, first responders revealed that Sheets still had the gun he used in his hand when they discovered his body.

First responders explained that they were cautious about approaching Sheets due to the potential of rigor mortis causing the late star’s finger to touch the trigger of the firearm. 

One of the first responders recognized Sheets from his career on TV, noting his fame from Storage Wars. 

The officer explained how Sheets and his son were the people who would purchase the storage units seen on the program. 

According to an incident report, Sheets left a suicide note which referenced cyberbullying he said he had been dealing with ahead of his tragic death, according to the authorities.

It read, ‘I could not take anymore the Facebook bullying, f*** you [redacted].’

Prosecutors have passed on filing charges related to the alleged bullying, police said in the report reviewed by TMZ, as the Lake Havasu City Attorney’s Office said the case was stymied in the wake of Sheets’ death because he could not provide further information about his claims.  

He told his girlfriend to ‘go back to bed’ before she heard the sound of a gunshot, the report stated.

Sheets had been dealing with insomnia in the months prior to his passing, as his girlfriend told investigators that stress often left him unable to sleep, according to the report.  

Sheets appeared on a total of 163 Storage Wars episodes on A&E from 2010 to 2023.

A bio on the show’s website touted his business skills, ‘Boasting a big game, Darrell is quick to tell you about the four Picassos and the world’s most lucrative comic book collection that he has scored through storage auctions.’

Sheets suffered a heart attack in 2019, and he went on to run a shop called Havasu Show Me Your Junk in Arizona in subsequent years.

He had been candid about his past battles with depression, calling it ‘the Devil’s way of attacking us’ in a powerful Instagram post from June 2018.

‘It knows no mercy, it takes our smiles it comes and goes, it ruins our relationships, it takes away our happiness, it leads to suicide in some cases, it destroys all thoughts of positivity, it is a 24/7 battle and allows no rest for the suffering [sic],’ Sheets wrote. ‘It’s a very real deal.’

The TV personality advised his followers, ‘So please next time someone tells you they have Depression, be kind and know that they spend every minute they have breathing, suffering!!!’ 

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

A gripping bodycam video reveals the tense moment when New York City police officers intervened to save a woman standing on the steel cables of the Brooklyn Bridge, high above the East River, on Wednesday.

According to the New York Police Department, officers from the Emergency Service Unit were dispatched at approximately 7:38 p.m. following reports of a distressed individual on the bridge.

The recently released video captures officers scaling the bridge to reach the woman, whose feet were precariously hanging over the side of one of the bridge’s steel cables.

“I just wanna talk,” one officer tells the woman. “What’s happening today?”

The officer continued speaking with the woman, urging her to accept help.

“I wanna help you, that’s why I’m up here right now,” the officer said. “I genuinely care, I do. It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem, it really is. I don’t know what you’re going through, but I want to understand. We have services we can get you to.”

“The strongest thing you can do right now is accept help, I promise you,” he continued. “That’s the strongest thing you can do.”

As the woman stood on the cable while holding onto another support cable with one arm, an officer moved close enough to wrap his arms around her and pull her to safety.

“Don’t do it. Don’t do it, please. Please, please,” the officer said. “I got you. You’re okay, I promise. I got you, I promise. Everything’s gonna be OK. You’re not in trouble.”

Police said officers spent nearly an hour talking with the woman before safely bringing her down the bridge.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch shared the bodycam video on social media and praised the responding officers.

“This video of a rescue last night on the Brooklyn Bridge will take your breath away,” Tisch wrote.

“High above the East River, NYPD ESU officers climbed onto the Brooklyn Bridge to reach a woman in crisis who was threatening to jump,” she continued. “For nearly an hour, they stayed with her, spoke with her, and waited for the moment they could safely pull her back from the edge. The care, courage, and compassion these officers showed was just extraordinary. May God bless them.”

Officials said the rescue unfolded during rush hour and forced the closure of all eastbound lanes on the bridge for several hours.

On Thursday, a federal appeals court reaffirmed the legality of a statewide ban on semiautomatic weapons in Illinois. This law was enacted as a direct response to a tragic shooting during an Independence Day parade.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit’s decision overrules a previous lower court ruling that had deemed the ban unconstitutional. In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court determined that the Illinois statute aligns with the Second Amendment and conforms to longstanding traditions of firearm regulation in the country.

“Decisions about adopting such measures rest with our chosen representatives,” the appeals court declared while reversing the lower court’s decision.

The majority opinion also counters arguments from the plaintiffs who claimed semiautomatic weapons were not responsible for mass shootings.

“The indisputable evidence shows a strong link between the use of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines with the increased gravity of this societal issue,” the court opinion stated.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said in a post on X that the decision is “a victory in the fight to end gun violence that helps keep our communities safe.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association seeking to stop the ban, said that it is disappointed with the decision and plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

The gun trade group said it agrees with Chief Judge Michael Brennan’s dissent in which he wrote that the country prohibits governments from banning “firearms commonly owned for self-defense.”

“Because the people have overwhelmingly chosen the AR-15 rifle and its magazine as their weapon of choice, they are protected by the Second Amendment,” the judge’s dissent states.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act was signed into law in 2023 by Pritzker and bans AR-15 rifles and similar guns, large-capacity magazines and an assortment of attachments.

It came six months after a 2022 shooting in which a gunman on a rooftop in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park opened fire on a parade, killing seven people and injuring more than three dozen.

The law prompted immediate pushback from county sheriffs who said they refused to enforce what they considered an unconstitutional law, while gun owners and advocates sued.

In 2024, a federal judge overturned the ban, leaning on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that strictly interpret the Second Amendment right to keep and bear firearms.

The injunction was set to take effect 30 days after the judge’s decision. But that same day, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a notice of appeal, which ultimately led to a stay in the injunction.

Raoul said Thursday’s decision enhances public safety. “We have seen the damage that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines can inflict, and these weapons of war have no place in our communities,” he said in a statement.

Last month, the Supreme Court announced it will consider whether bans on semiautomatic rifles, often called assault weapons, violate the Second Amendment. In the fall, the court, which has expanded gun rights, is expected to hear appeals challenging a ban in the Chicago area, which predates the statewide law.