A father of a U.S. service member killed in the Iran war says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overstated what families told him.

Hegseth claimed families urged them to keep fighting, but at least one father says he never said that.

Charles Simmons (the father) pushed back:

“That was not something we talked about. No, I didn’t say anything along those lines.”

Instead, he expressed uncertainty about the war:

“Who wants war?… I just don’t know what’s going on.”

Another official also didn’t hear families telling Trump to “finish the job.”

Source: NBC

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez fired the old military leadership and replaced the entire high command to tighten control after Maduro’s removal.

This comes right after replacing the defense minister.

A U.S. strike hit the IRGC’s tunnel complex on Qeshm Island, causing visible surface damage (craters, hits on nearby facilities), but failed to destroy or penetrate the hardened underground tunnels, meaning key assets likely survived.

Crater impacts near tunnel entrances, but no signs of collapse or deep penetration.

The underground complex (used for boats, missiles, drones) is still likely operational or repairable.

Source: MT_Anderson, A_z_im (at X)

Iran has set up a “safe passage” route through the Strait of Hormuz for ships it approves.

Some vessels reportedly paid up to $2 million for guaranteed transit.

Source: FT, LLI

NEW: Israel says it carried out overnight airstrikes on Syrian military targets in southern Syria.

Trump shows Japan’s PM Takaichi a White House display where Biden’s portrait is replaced by an autopen, mocking him.

Takaichi appears to laugh.

EU official on Iran War to Politico:

The EU was left with doing what we always do.

Writing nice statements.

Turkish President Erdogan on his Eid al-Fitr message:

The Middle East is boiling right now, and as is known, Zionist Israel has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

God willing, it will pay the price for this. I have no doubt about that.

WATCH: U.S. C-RAM system shooting down a kamikaze drone near Baghdad at night using rapid-fire 20mm tracer rounds.

Iran says IRGC General and spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naeini has been killed.

Joe Kent on Iran:

I will not in good conscience send young men and women off to die on foreign battlefields.

We are at a critical juncture in the war in Iran; we need to let our leaders hear that we do not support this war.

Saudi officials warn oil could surge past $180 a barrel by late April if the Iran War continues to disrupt supply.

Source: WSJ

Trump is scaling back the tone and visibility of mass deportations after concerns they went too far and hurt politically.

The focus is shifting to deporting criminals, with fewer high-profile raids and slightly lower arrest numbers.

Source: WSJ

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf:

The F-35 was not just a fighter jet but a statue of the U.S. military's invincibility and arrogance. A theological symbol claimed to be invisible to any eye and superior to any power; but the hand of God is above their hands.

This symbol was struck for the first time in the world, yet God cast. And this was the moment of collapse of an order.

NEW: An Israeli reservist in an Iron Dome unit was arrested for spying for Iran, sharing sensitive military info for money after being recruited.

The suspect knew he was dealing with Iranian intelligence.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz says Israel will not allow the Syria “to harm Druze people while Israel is fighting Iran and Hezbollah.”

He and Netanyau ordered strikes on Syrian targets in southern Syria.

Katz warned that if such attacks continue, Israel is prepared to escalate and carry out even more powerful strikes.

Turkish journalist Yahya Bostan:

While Israel tries to collect the spoils of war, it is Trump who ends up taking the hit.

Trump cannot head for the exit ramp without resolving the Hormuz crisis.

Russia summoned Israel’s Ambassador after an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon injured an RT news crew.

Moscow called the attack deliberate and a serious violation of international law.

BIG: Trump is considering seizing or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island to force reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but no decision yet.

“He wants Hormuz open… if he has to take Kharg Island, that’s going to happen.”

Plan may require more strikes + troops before any ground move.

Risks are high, with doubts it would work:

“We need about a month to weaken the Iranians… then take the island.”

Source: Axios