Dow jumps 300 points as oil drops following a restrained retaliation by Iran to U.S. attacks | 23 June 2025 | 3:05 p.m. EDT: Stocks rose and crude prices tumbled Monday as investors breathed a sigh of relief that Iran’s response to the U.S. attacks over the weekend was more restrained than expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 318 points, or 0.7%. The S&P 500 gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.8%. Iran’s armed forces said Monday they attacked an American base in Qatar following they U.S. destroying Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz over the weekend. The response, however, was intercepted by Qatar and no casualties were reported. This led to a sell-off in oil prices as traders bet crude supply wouldn’t be materially disrupted by the ongoing conflict.

Qatar says it successfully intercepted Iranian missiles | 23 June 2025 | Qatar’s Ministry of Defense has just put out a statement saying its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles fired toward Al Udeid Air Base and no deaths or injuries resulted. In a separate statement, Doha’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We are reassured that Qatari air defenses thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles…We also affirm that the continuation of such escalatory military actions will undermine security and stability in the region and lead to catastrophic consequences for international peace and security. We call for an immediate cessation of all military actions and a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue.”

Iran fires 10 missiles at 2 U.S. airbases in retaliation for nuclear site bombing in terrifying escalation | 23 June 2025 | Iran has launched at least 10 missiles at the United States’ biggest base in the Middle East and another in Iraq in response to President Trump bombing nuclear labs over the weekend. Aerial defenses were activated shortly after a “credible threat” alert was issued to the Al Udeid base in Qatar, which hosts over 10,000 U.S. troops as well as over 100 aircraft, strategic bombers and tankers. U.S. bases in Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain also sounded their air raid sirens shortly after the Al Udeid base was targeted by Iranian missiles. President Trump has convened his national security team in the White House as US targets across the world are put on high alert. It comes as Iran warned the United States will “directly pay” for strikes on its nuclear facilities “rather than standing behind Israel,” with the Islamic Republic prepared for a war lasting up to two years, a senior Iranian official told reporters.

Iran launches missiles at U.S. bases in Middle East – media –A barrage of at least ten ballistic missiles has reportedly been fired at airbases in Qatar and Iraq | 23 June 2025 | Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. military installations across the Middle East, Iranian state-run media reported on Monday. Operation “Herald of Victory” has so far hit facilities in Qatar and Iraq. Unverified footage circulating online shows multiple projectiles in the skies above Qatar. Anti-aircraft defenses were apparently activated, with multiple interceptor missiles fired. The attack reportedly targeted Al Udeid Air Base, a sprawling military installation used by the Qatari, U.S. and UK militaries. It was not immediately clear whether any incoming projectiles made it through.

Dept. of Homeland Security warns of ‘heightened threat environment’ following Iran strikes –Sources told NBC News Iran sent a communication to President Trump last week, threatening to activate sleeper-cell terror inside the United States if it were attacked | 23 June 2025 | UPDATE at 12:05 p.m.: According to a senior White House official, the White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The Department of Homeland Security on Sunday issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin warning of a “heightened threat environment” following the U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran. “Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks,” the bulletin said. It went on to say that the strikes could motivate violent extremist groups led by the Islamic Republic of Iran to “mobilize,” and seek to attack targets perceived to be Jewish, pro-Israel, or linked to the US government.

Threat of sleeper cells in U.S. has ‘never been higher’ – CBP | 22 June 025 | The threat of sleeper cells in the U.S. has “never been higher,” though there are no current specific threats, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A memo sent Saturday from CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, obtained by The Hill’s sister network NewsNation, said “thousands of Iranian nationals have been documented entering the United States illegally and countless more were likely in the known and unknown got-a-ways.” “Though we have not received any specific credible threats to share with you all currently, the threat of sleeper cells or sympathizers acting on their own, or at the behest of Iran has never been higher,” Scott added. The memo urged CBP personnel to remain “vigilant.”

Major U.S. cities on high alert following airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities | 22 June 2025 | Authorities in New York and Washington are on high alert after U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday night. “We’re tracking the situation unfolding in Iran,” NYPD said in a post on X. “Out of an abundance of caution, we’re deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners…” Shortly thereafter, the Metropolitan Police Department released a similar statement on the social media platform. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X, noting that following the bombings in Iran, the city is “closely monitoring any threats to public safety.” On Sunday, Miami-Dade County, home to Miami, also said it is on high alert. “The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is actively monitoring the situation in the Middle East,” said a post on X. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are increasing patrols throughout the county.”

U.S. Says Strikes ‘Devastated’ Iran’s Nuclear Program | 22 June 2025 | Unprecedented U.S. strikes have wrecked Iran’s nuclear program, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday, though other officials cautioned the extent of damage at the three sites was unclear. Iran’s leaders struck a defiant tone and vowed to respond, while an advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed their stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed. International concern intensified over the surprise attacks deepening conflict in the Middle East after Israel launched its bombing campaign against Iran earlier this month. President Donald Trump said he wanted peace and urged Iran to end the conflict after he launched massive overnight strikes on a key underground uranium enrichment site at Fordo, along with nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz… Trump claimed total success for the operation in an address to the nation hours after the attack, and Vice President JD Vance followed up on Sunday morning.

U.S.-Iran tensions slow tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz, trade group says | 23 June 2025 | A growing number of cargo ships are said to be steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz, the vital artery for global oil and gas shipments, as tensions spike in the Middle East following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The world’s largest shipping trade group, Bimco, says several operators have begun halting transits through one of the world’s most critical chokepoints, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. While ship traffic had remained relatively stable in recent weeks, the mood shifted rapidly after Saturday’s U.S. strikes on key Iranian enrichment facilities. “Before the U.S. attack, the impact on shipping patterns was limited,” Jakob Larsen, Bimco’s head of maritime security, told CNBC. “Now, after the U.S. attack, we have indications that the number of ships passing is reducing.”

Iran orders closure of Strait of Hormuz – putting one-fifth of world’s oil supply at risk | 22 June 2025 | Iran’s parliament has voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel through which around 20% of the world’s daily oil flows. The move, which could block 1 billion in oil shipments per day, is likely to send oil prices soaring. It will come into effect pending a final decision by Iran’s Supreme Council. The Supreme Council’s decision must be made by tonight, according to Iran’s state-run Press TV.

U.S. military braces for Iran counterstrikes on ‘bases and facilities’ after Trump destroys critical nuclear sites | 22 June 2025 | In the wake on America’s attack on Iranian nuclear sites Saturday, U.S. military leaders are telling their troops to prepare for potential retaliatory attacks. Military leaders are telling troops that tonight’s attack “will likely result in counterstrikes on U.S. bases and facilities” in the Middle East. In addition, it will “likely activate Iran and other foreign terrorist organizations cells abroad including the U.S. to conduct strikes against U.S. persons and facilities.” There are about 40,000 U.S. troops stationed across the Middle East spread across multiple countries.

Suicide bomber ‘kills 22 and injures 63’ in attack on church full of worshipers in Syria | 22 June 2025 | At least 22 worshippers have been killed and 63 wounded in a suicide bomb attack at a Christian church in Syria. The bomber opened fire as people were praying inside Mar Elias Church, in the Dweila neighbourhood of Damascus, before detonating his vest. Some children are thought to be among the wounded, according to state media. Horrifying footage showed blood splattered over the shattered pews and masonry walls following the blast. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Syria’s interior ministry said a member of the Islamic State group [aka I-CIA-SIS] was behind Sunday’s attack.

Russia strikes targets in Kiev Region – MOD | 23 June 2025 | The Russian military carried out a large strike on a number of Ukrainian military facilities in the Kiev region overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Monday. The ministry stated that the attack was conducted using high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles. The strikes targeted Ukraine’s military industrial enterprises, as well as the infrastructure at a military airfield and an arsenal of mine-torpedo weapons of the Ukrainian Navy. “The strike goals were achieved. All designated targets were hit,” the ministry said in a post on its Telegram channel. Kiev residents told the media that the attacks apparently targeted drone assembly plants.

Active shooter drives truck into church and opens fire on congregation in Michigan | 22 June 2025 | Horrific footage from a church service’s livestream showed the moment that frantic families started running for their lives when an active shooter opened fire. CrossPointe Church in Wayne, Michigan, was hosting its Sunday morning mass when the suspect, described by police as a white man, 31, suddenly rammed his Ford F-150 truck into the building and started shooting bullets at the terrified congregation inside. Deputy Chief Finley Carter III with the Michigan Police Department said the suspect’s identity wasn’t being released at this time, and they are still investigating a motive. The department confirmed the unnamed suspect was killed at the scene by the church’s security guard. One victim was shot in the leg.

Shocking poll shows Zohran Mamdani overtaking Andrew Cuomo in NYC’s ranked choice primary | 23 June 2025 | Lefty upstart Zohran Mamdani has leapfrogged over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the city’s ranked choice Democratic primary for mayor, according to a stunning new poll released Monday. In its hypothetical initial round of voting, Cuomo’s lead shrinks to 3 percentage points, with 35% of likely Democratic voters supporting him compared to 32% for Mamdani and 13% for city Comptroller Brad Lander, the Emerson College Polling/Pix 11/The Hill survey found. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams follows with 8%, Scott Stringer 3% and 5% split between candidates Zellnor Myrie, Whitney Tilson, Jessica Ramos and Michael Blake, with another 4% undecided.