Month: March 2026

A U.S. Navy attack submarine torpedoed and destroyed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean this week, marking the first time since World War II that an American submarine has sunk an enemy combat vessel, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the Iranian ship believed it was secure in international waters before it was struck. “Instead it was sunk by a torpedo — quiet death,” he told reporters, describing the strike as swift and decisive. Pentagon footage taken through a submarine periscope and later shared publicly appears to show the vessel splitting apart before disappearing beneath the surface.

U.S. officials said a single Mark 48 torpedo was used in the strike, producing what Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine called an “immediate effect,” sending the ship “to the bottom of the sea.” The last comparable U.S. submarine attack occurred in August 1945, when the USS Torsk sank two Japanese vessels shortly before Japan’s surrender.

Sri Lankan officials identified the ship as the IRIS Dena, sometimes referred to as the “Soleimani,” a name linked to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a 2020 U.S. airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump. According to Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, 180 people were aboard at the time of the attack. The Sri Lankan navy said it recovered dozens of bodies and rescued 32 survivors, who were taken to a hospital in the southern port city of Galle. Rescue crews reported finding only debris and an oil slick when they reached the site, which lay outside Sri Lankan territorial waters. Despite the escalating conflict, Sri Lankan authorities emphasized that their immediate priority remains search-and-rescue efforts related to the sunken Iranian ship. “We are hopeful we can rescue more people and will continue [operations] until we are sure,” a navy spokesperson said.

The sinking comes amid a widening U.S. military offensive against Iran. U.S. Central Command said American forces have struck or destroyed more than 20 Iranian ships, including naval vessels and at least one submarine, since hostilities escalated last week. Caine said Iran’s major naval presence in the region has effectively been neutralized.

At Wednesday’s briefing, Hegseth and Caine said the campaign is intensifying. The U.S. now has control of Iranian airspace, they said, enabling a broader bombing effort using 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound GPS- and laser-guided munitions, as well as Hellfire missiles. Additional bombers and fighter aircraft are arriving in the region, and officials indicated operations could continue for weeks. “We’re just getting started,” Hegseth said, arguing that Iran had engaged in negotiations without genuinely abandoning its nuclear ambitions. He maintained that U.S. action was defensive and aimed at protecting American personnel, allies, and interests.

The Pentagon says more than 2,000 targets inside Iran — including missile systems, command centers, naval assets, and Revolutionary Guard facilities — have been hit so far. Six U.S. service members have been killed and at least 10 seriously wounded. Caine publicly named four of the fallen and offered condolences to their families, noting that additional losses had been anticipated.

Iranian officials have sharply condemned the strikes. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned on social media that killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “will exact a heavy price from you.” Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that at least 940 people have been killed in Iran since the fighting began.

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The House Ethics Committee has voted to begin a formal investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales, just as the Texas Republican heads into a high-stakes primary runoff that could determine his political future. The ethics announcement comes on the heels of a closely contested Republican primary in which neither Gonzales nor challenger Brandon Herrera secured a majority, triggering a runoff set for late May. The deadline to withdraw from the race is mid-March. The ethics probe, which could stretch on for months or longer, now looms over the 12-week campaign.

Lawmakers announced the creation of an investigative subcommittee to examine claims that Gonzales “engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office” and/or “discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges.” The panel will assess whether he violated House rules or any other applicable standards of conduct (House rules strictly prohibit members from pursuing sexual relationships or making unwelcome advances toward staff.).

The inquiry follows reports that Gonzales allegedly had a relationship with a former staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, and sent her explicit messages via text that were published by the San Antonio Express-News but have not been independently verified by several national outlets. Santos-Aviles died by suicide last year after setting herself on fire.

Gonzales has denied wrongdoing and has resisted calls from some fellow Republicans to step aside. In a statement responding to the investigation, he said, “I welcome the opportunity to present all the facts to the committee.” In earlier remarks, he added, “There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out,” and insisted that what has been reported publicly does not tell the full story.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged patience, emphasizing that Gonzales deserves due process. “You know I’ve always been consistent: We allow due process and investigations to play out,” Johnson said when asked whether he would endorse the congressman in the runoff. He has also encouraged Gonzales to publicly address the allegations, noting that voters have already weighed in by forcing a second round.

Ethics Committee proceedings are typically confidential and often slow-moving. Past investigations have taken years to conclude, with findings sometimes resulting only in letters of reproval rather than harsher discipline. For Gonzales, however, the investigation’s launch adds fresh uncertainty to an already contentious contest — one that will determine whether he secures another term representing his South Texas district.

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A Barrow County jury has found 55-year-old Colin Gray guilty on 27 counts — including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children — for his role in the 2024 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Jurors reached their decision in under two hours following a two-week trial. Two additional charges were dismissed.

The case centers on the Sept. 4, 2024 attack, when Gray’s son, Colt Gray, then 14, allegedly brought an AR-15-style rifle onto campus and opened fire. Investigators say the weapon was concealed in his backpack as he rode the school bus. After leaving class, he reportedly retrieved the rifle from a bathroom and began shooting in classrooms and hallways. Four people were killed: 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, along with teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53. Another teacher and eight students were injured. Authorities allege the teen carefully planned the assault, leaving behind a notebook outlining preparations and a sketch of his classroom.

Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray ignored mounting warning signs about his son’s worsening mental state and fascination with prior mass shooters. Jurors were shown photos of the teen’s bedroom, including images of Nikolas Cruz, who carried out the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Despite those red flags, prosecutors said, Gray bought his son the rifle as a Christmas gift and provided ammunition.

Assistant District Attorney Patricia Brooks told jurors during closing arguments: “After seeing sign after sign of his son’s deteriorating mental state, his violence, his school shooter obsession, the defendant had sufficient warning that his son was a bomb just waiting to go off. And instead of disarming him, he gave him the detonator.”

Taking the stand in his own defense, Gray acknowledged purchasing the rifle but said he intended to use it for hunting trips and range practice with his son. He testified that the gift came with conditions tied to good behavior and school performance. Fighting back emotion, he said, “I struggle with it every day. I never thought that he would even have a thought process of bringing a gun to school or doing any kind of harm to anybody else. Well, on anybody at school.”  Defense attorney Jimmy Barry maintained that responsibility rests solely with the teen. Showing jurors a photograph of Colt Gray, Barry argued, “Everybody wants to see somebody go to jail other than this young man right here,” adding, “This is the person who needs to be punished. He made a conscious decision to do this – a secretive decision.”

Colt Gray, now 16, is being prosecuted as an adult and faces 55 counts, including felony murder and aggravated assault. He has pleaded not guilty.  Colt Gary faces up to 30 years in prison on the murder counts and could potentially spend the rest of his life behind bars; a trial date has not yet been set.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem endured sharp questioning Tuesday as she appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first time since two fatal shootings during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis ignited national outrage.

The hearing unfolded against a tense backdrop: a partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security amid a funding impasse, rising concerns about domestic security following violence in Texas, and deepening political divisions over President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Much of the session focused on the January deaths of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both U.S. citizens, who were shot during a large-scale immigration enforcement surge known as Operation Metro Surge. Hundreds of officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection had been deployed to the state in what DHS initially described as a fraud investigation.

In the immediate aftermath, Noem labeled Pretti’s actions “the definition of domestic terrorism,” drawing fierce criticism. On Tuesday, Sen. Dick Durbin pressed her repeatedly to retract the claim. “You and your agency rushed to brand these victims as, quote, domestic terrorists,” Durbin said, urging her to apologize.  Noem declined to do so, saying she relied on preliminary reports from agents at what she described as a chaotic scene involving “violent protesters.” She added that condolences had been offered and that investigations were ongoing, but stopped short of admitting error.

While most Republicans defended the administration’s enforcement push, two GOP senators delivered pointed criticism. Sen. Thom Tillis, who is retiring, blasted Noem’s leadership as a “disaster,” accusing DHS of prioritizing arrest quotas over accuracy. “Quality matters, not quantity,” he said, citing cases in which American citizens were detained. He threatened to stall Senate business and block nominees unless the department provides answers about enforcement operations.

Sen. John Kennedy questioned a roughly $200 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign warning migrants against unlawful entry. The contract went to a Republican consulting firm with ties to Noem. Kennedy suggested the ads boosted her profile more than public safety. Noem denied involvement in selecting the firm and called the campaign “extremely effective.”

The hearing also spotlighted a standoff over DHS funding. Democrats have withheld support for a new appropriations bill unless changes are made to immigration enforcement practices after the Minneapolis deaths. Though last year’s spending package left DHS with substantial reserves, parts of the agency — including FEMA and the TSA — remain affected by the lapse. Some Republicans argued the funding delay poses national security risks, particularly amid tensions with Iran. Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that failing to fully fund DHS could leave the country vulnerable. Democrats, meanwhile, accused DHS of overreach and civil rights violations. Protesters and relatives of detainees attended the hearing, briefly interrupting proceedings before being removed.

Lawmakers also asked whether immigration agents might be deployed to polling places in November after Trump suggested expanding federal involvement in elections. Noem said, “There are no plans to have ICE officers at our polling locations,” adding that states remain responsible for administering elections.

Despite bipartisan skepticism, Trump has publicly backed Noem, even as some Republicans call for her resignation and House Democrats pursue impeachment efforts.  She is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee again on Wednesday

For highlights from Noem’s testimony, head HERE.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday defended the expanding U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, describing it as precise, mission-driven and necessary to counter Tehran’s missile capabilities and nuclear ambitions. Standing beside Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine at the Pentagon, Hegseth said the operation is narrowly aimed, and will not become another prolonged conflict in the Middle East.

“The mission of Operation Epic Fury is laser-focused,” Hegseth said, outlining objectives that include eliminating Iran’s offensive missile systems, crippling missile production, dismantling naval assets and preventing the country from ever obtaining nuclear weapons. He added that U.S. forces are striking “surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically.”

The campaign, launched over the weekend by U.S. and Israeli forces, has already resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, along with other senior figures. President Donald Trump authorized the operation Friday, approving what officials call “Operation Epic Fury.”

While Trump has suggested the conflict could continue “four weeks or less” — and in another interview estimated four to five weeks — Hegseth declined to commit to a timetable. “President Trump has all the latitude in the world to talk about how long it may or may not take,” he said, stressing the military will execute the mission as directed. At the same time, he rejected comparisons to past wars, stating, “This is not Iraq,” and insisting the effort would not be “endless.”

Hegseth confirmed there are currently no U.S. “boots on the ground” in Iran but would not rule out future options. He framed the strikes as retaliation, arguing that Iran’s “stubborn and self-evident nuclear pursuit,” ballistic missile expansion and attacks on global shipping left the U.S. little choice. “We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it,” he said. “Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their Ayatollah and his death cult.”

Despite the killing of Iran’s top leader, Hegseth denied the mission is about regime change. “This is not a so-called regime-change war,” he said, though he added that the outcome has altered Iran’s leadership and “the world is better off for it.”

Gen. Caine detailed the scope of the opening assault: more than 100 aircraft launched in a coordinated wave from land and sea, alongside unmanned systems. U.S. Navy Tomahawk missiles struck first, targeting Iranian naval forces along the country’s southern coast. Cyber operations disrupted communications and air defenses, and B-2 bombers carried out lengthy round-trip missions reminiscent of last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Caine cautioned that the campaign amounts to “major combat operations” and acknowledged the likelihood of further casualties. Four U.S. service members have been killed so far after Iran struck a fortified tactical command center. “We expected to take additional losses,” he said.

The conflict has rapidly widened. Iran and allied forces have launched missile attacks on Israel, U.S. installations and Gulf nations. At least 11 people have been reported killed in Israel, while the Iranian Red Crescent says 555 people have died in Iran. In Kuwait, three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were downed in what Central Command described as a friendly fire incident; all crew members survived. Smoke was also seen rising from the U.S. Embassy there following an apparent missile strike.

As battle damage assessments continue, U.S. officials maintain the operation remains focused on degrading Iran’s military capabilities rather than occupying the country. “No nation-building quagmire,” Hegseth said. “We fight to win.”

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