The Latest: US deploys thousands more troops to the war as Iran threatens world tourism sites

On one of the holiest days on the Islamic calendar, Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighboring Gulf Arab states, insisting that it can still build missiles and issuing a new threat: to deny safety to its enemies in “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide. Israel meanwhile pounded Tehran with airstrikes as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

The U.S. military is deploying three more warships and roughly 2,500 more marines to the Middle East, where there's no end to the war in sight despite three weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that have decimated Iran's military and leadership. The Pentagon’s request for another $200 billion to fund the war would need congressional approval as the U.S. national debt hits a record $39 trillion.

Hours later, President Donald Trump said on social media that his administration in fact was considering “winding down” military operations in the region. His post came after another climb in oil plunged the U.S. stock market.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will stop attacking the gas field that Iranians depend on for most of their electricity at Trump's request. Iran responded to Israel’s attack on the field by intensifying targeting of energy infrastructure in other Middle East countries.

The death toll has risen to more than 1,300 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members in the region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.

Here is the latest:

Israel strikes targets in Tehran and Beirut

The Israeli military said early Saturday it was striking targets in Tehran.

The announcement came shortly after the military said it had begun a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah positions across the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon.

Hours earlier, the army renewed evacuation warnings for seven neighborhoods in Beirut’s suburbs, prompting some residents to fire gunshots to alert families who had returned to flee.

No casualties were immediately reported.

United Airlines prepares for oil to reach $175 a barrel

The airline’s CEO said the company is also preparing for oil to not return to $100 a barrel until the end of next year.

Scott Kirby said in a message to United employees on Friday that jet fuel prices that have more than doubled in the last three weeks already would cost the airline $11 billion a year if they remain where they are now.

The price of Brent crude has zigzagged from roughly $70 per barrel before the Iran war began to as high as $119.50 this week.

Of United’s worst-case assumption, Kirby said, “I think there’s a good chance it won’t be that bad, but ... there isn’t much downside for us to preparing for that outcome.”

The Trump administration will lift sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea under a 1-month license

The move comes as the White House tries to bring down soaring oil prices.

The pause applies to Iranian oil loaded on ships as of Friday and is set to end on April 19.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously suggested the move as a way to prevent China from being the sole beneficiary of Iranian oil.

The Trump administration also eased sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments for 30 days as it looks for ways to boost global oil supplies during the Iran war.

The license has limits including a restriction on sales involving anyone in North Korea or Cuba.

Trump adds new objective for the Iran war

Though his administration for weeks has maintained that its four objectives remained “unchanged, unambiguous, and consistent” since the operation began, Trump in his social media post added a fifth one.

The four objectives had been to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, stop it from arming proxy militant groups, destroy its navy and destroy its ballistic missile capacity.

In his post Friday, Trump enumerated those and added a fifth: “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies” and listed America’s Gulf partners.

Trump say US is considering ‘winding down’ its Middle East military operation

The president made the comment in a post on social media Friday evening after another climb in oil prices sent the U.S. stock market sharply lower.

Trump’s statement seemed at odds with his administration’s move to send more troops and warships to the region and request another $200 billion from Congress to fund the war.

In his post, the president also left a muddled picture of whether the U.S. would police the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. Trump had said this week that the U.S. didn’t need help, while also complaining that other countries did not help.

Pete Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric draws renewed scrutiny during Iran war

Since becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his strand of conservative evangelicalism into the Pentagon. From employee worship services to speeches and interviews, he often argues the U.S. is a Christian nation, and troops should embrace God.

Now Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric has taken on new meaning after the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran, an Islamic theocracy.

“The mullahs are desperate and scrambling,” he said at a recent Pentagon press briefing, referring to Iran’s Shiite Muslim clerics. He later recited Psalm 144, a passage of Scripture that Jews and Christians share: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.”

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Normally festive Nowruz celebrations are quiet in Tehran, a resident says

In one upscale northern Tehran neighborhood there are none of the usual decorations celebrating the Persian New Year.

“In the city, people are mostly staying at home. You hardly see anyone out on the street. Basically, there is no mood (for new year) in the city at all,” said the woman, who spoke in a series of voice messages. She spoke on condition of anonymity because she fears reprisals.

She almost forgot about the holiday amid the fighting, until she saw someone carrying a hyacinth, a traditional flower of the celebration.

The holiday last year had been muted by a commemoration of her father’s death. “This year, it feels much heavier ... everyone around is feeling bad,” she said.

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By Sahar Ameri

As Washington shifts missiles toward Iran, US officials raise concerns of gaps in European air defenses

U.S. defense officials have told The Associated Press that a sizable number of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles have moved from Europe to the Middle East as Washington diverts resources toward its war in Iran.

Two officials say this leaves concerning gaps in Europe’s air defenses against Russia. A third said there is still “plenty” of capacity in NATO to defend Europe. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

Asked to comment on the missiles being moved, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AP: “The US military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump — and beyond.”

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