A U.S. fighter jet was shot down over Iran, American and Iranian officials said, while a separate U.S. aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf near the Islamic Republic, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing war.

France has stepped up security at sensitive sites ahead of Good Friday after authorities foiled a bomb plot targeting U.S.-linked financial institutions, raising concerns about a heightened terrorist threat amid fears the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could inspire attacks in Europe.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump sought to play down global fears that the war in Iran is spiraling out of control, saying the conflict is “very close” to completion while warning of fresh U.S. strikes within weeks.

A major bridge near Tehran collapsed following reported U.S. airstrikes, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran as Donald Trump warned Iran to negotiate before further destruction unfolds.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Northern Molucca Sea region early Thursday, prompting tsunami warnings, panic among residents, and initial reports of casualties and damage, officials said.

The United States Embassy in Baghdad issued an urgent security alert Thursday, warning American citizens to leave Iraq immediately due to credible threats of attacks by Iran-aligned terrorist militias within the next 24 to 48 hours.

President Donald Trump has discussed with senior advisers the possibility of withdrawing the United States from NATO if European allies fail to assist in reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. officials, signaling mounting strain within the decades-old alliance.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared Tuesday night that U.S. military operations in Iran are approaching their final phase, signaling that the conflict could soon come to a close after weeks of intense engagement.

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to assist the United States and allied nations in reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force, marking a significant strategic shift that could make it the first Persian Gulf state to formally enter the conflict against Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal.

An American freelance journalist has been kidnapped in Iraq’s capital Baghdad, with authorities confirming the arrest of a suspect linked to an Iran-aligned militia, Iraqi and U.S. officials said.

Ties between the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Moscow appear to be closer than previously thought after leaked recordings suggested direct coordination over European Union sanctions against Russia.

Italy denied permission last week for U.S. military aircraft to land at the Sigonella air base in Sicily before continuing on to the Middle East, according to sources cited Tuesday, highlighting growing sensitivities among European allies over the ongoing conflict with Iran.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States could bring its conflict with Iran to a close within two to three weeks, signaling what he described as the final phase of a month-long war that has reshaped the Middle East and shaken global markets.

President Donald Trump and key cabinet members escalated criticism on Tuesday toward U.S. allies for their reluctance to support the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump made clear Tuesday that he is considering an exit from the Iran War even without first reopening the Strait of Hormuz.