In a day defined by defiance and escalation, President Trump declared Tuesday that the United States is prepared to secure the Strait of Hormuz alone, Israel expanded its Lebanon ground operation with a second division pushing deeper into Hezbollah territory, and Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed in a video statement that Ali Larijani — Iran’s de facto leader since Khamenei’s death — has been eliminated. Simultaneously, new data revealed that 307 Iranian nationals have been arrested attempting to enter the United States illegally since Trump took office, and not one has been released.

It is, by any measure, the most consequential 24-hour period of the three-week conflict — and it unfolded on multiple fronts simultaneously, each one reshaping the strategic landscape in ways that will echo long after the guns fall silent.

Trump to NATO: We Never Needed You

In a Truth Social post that will redefine the transatlantic relationship for years, Trump declared that America “no longer ‘needs,’ or desires, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID.” The statement came after days of fruitless appeals to France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and others to contribute warships to the Hormuz reopening coalition. Every major ally said no. Trump’s response was not to press harder — it was to stop asking.

Speaking separately from the Oval Office, Trump addressed suggestions that the United States had been drawn into the conflict primarily through its relationship with Israel. “I was against Iran long before I ever thought about Israel being against Iran,” he said — a deliberate framing of the conflict as a matter of core American national interest, not alliance obligation. He added that while NATO allies supported the war’s goals — particularly preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons — they were “unwilling to contribute militarily,” a distinction he called “a one-way street.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a confirmation that underscored the alliance’s fracture, stated publicly that France would not participate in operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “under current conditions” — though he indicated a willingness to assist in securing shipping routes after hostilities subside. The qualifier “after hostilities subside” was noted by analysts as suggesting France will provide help only once America has already done the dangerous work.

Netanyahu: “We Are Undermining the Regime”

Netanyahu confirmed in a video statement that Ali Larijani — whom he described as the “boss” of a “gangster regime” — has been eliminated. The Israeli intelligence operation that found and killed Larijani despite his relocation to a temporary safehouse near Tehran is being described by Israeli officials as a defining moment in the campaign: the systematic elimination of not just Iran’s military command but its political and security leadership at every level.

With Larijani gone, attention is shifting toward Ahmad Vahidi, recently elevated to lead the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Analysts suggest Vahidi — previously a lesser-known figure — may now hold the most significant behind-the-scenes authority due to the IRGC’s central role in Iran’s power structure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued statements but is widely viewed as lacking real control over the country’s security apparatus. Mojtaba Khamenei, the formally named Supreme Leader, has still not been seen or heard publicly since his appointment and is believed by intelligence sources to be severely wounded.

The regime’s release of an undated handwritten note attributed to Larijani shortly after Israel’s announcement — praising fallen sailors with no date, no reference to the current moment, and no live appearance — was read by analysts as a transparent attempt to sow doubt about his death. Two anonymous Iranian officials privately acknowledged both Larijani’s and Soleimani’s deaths to journalists. Tehran has issued no official denial.

IDF Expands Lebanon Operation: A Second Division Enters

On the western front, the IDF confirmed Tuesday that the 36th Division has begun a new targeted ground operation in southern Lebanon, widening what the military describes as a “forward defense area” along the northern border. The 36th joins the 91st “Galilee” Division, which entered earlier this week, while the 146th Division remains defensively positioned in the west — three IDF formations now operating simultaneously across the Lebanese theater.

Ahead of the 36th Division’s advance, the Israeli Air Force and artillery units conducted extensive preparatory strikes. In Beirut, Lebanese media reported multiple Israeli airstrikes in the Dahiyeh district — a known Hezbollah stronghold — after evacuation warnings were issued to civilians. Overnight rocket and drone barrages from Lebanon sounded sirens across northern Israeli communities; six people were wounded in a rocket strike on Nahariya the previous evening.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir offered the clearest articulation yet of the operational logic linking the Iran campaign to the Lebanon front. “Iran is the main arena. Weakening the regime weakens the entire radical axis, including Hezbollah,” he said. Despite the pressure, Hezbollah continues firing roughly 100 rockets and more than 100 drones per day — many now launching from deeper Lebanese territory beyond the immediate border zone, as the IDF buffer push forces the group to relocate its launch infrastructure.

Lebanon is facing a mounting humanitarian crisis. Authorities report over one million displaced civilians and at least 886 people killed in Israeli strikes, including dozens of children. Despite reports of potential diplomatic engagement between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli officials have denied any current plans for direct talks, and the IDF signaled it is preparing for a broader operational phase with additional forces potentially deployed.

America’s Own Iranian Threat: 307 Arrested at the Border

While the nation’s attention has been fixed on the skies over Tehran and the fields of southern Lebanon, a quieter front has been developing at America’s own borders. New data obtained by The Center Square reveals that 307 Iranian nationals have been apprehended by Border Patrol agents attempting to enter the United States illegally since President Trump took office — and not one has been released into the country. All have been transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for detention and processing.

The contrast with the previous administration is stark. Between 2021 and 2024, Border Patrol agents caught approximately 1,500 Iranians nationwide. Under Biden administration policy, agents were instructed to release them despite their classification as Special Interest Aliens — noncitizens identified by the Department of Homeland Security as potentially connected to terrorism. Nearly half, some 729 individuals, were released without what Trump officials describe as proper vetting.

The concern is not hypothetical. At least 700 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members have been identified in Canada, according to reports, posing what Canadian and U.S. security officials describe as a national security threat. The proximity of active IRGC operatives to the American border, at a moment when the United States is conducting the largest military operation against Iran in history, has intensified calls for tighter bilateral security coordination with Ottawa.

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