The Trump administration is drawing a legal line under its standoff with Iran, declaring the conflict effectively “terminated” just as a critical congressional deadline approaches. At the center of the controversy is the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a law designed to limit presidential military action without approval from Congress. With the 60-day clock expiring, officials now argue that hostilities tied to the Iran confrontation have already ceased, pointing to an early April ceasefire and a halt in direct military exchanges. Senior officials maintain that no active combat has taken place since early April, framing the situation as a concluded episode rather than an ongoing war. This interpretation aligns with statements made before the Senate, where the administration emphasized “paused” or “ended” hostilities, effectively sidestepping the need for congressional authorization. WATCH

Iran-backed Hezbollah has intensified its drone and rocket campaign against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon, marking a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities. A deadly drone strike near Qantara killed 19-year-old Sgt. Liem Ben Hamo of the Golani Brigade, with additional soldiers injured in separate attacks in Bint Jbeil. Hezbollah claimed responsibility, stating its drone operations specifically targeted Israeli armored units. The IDF reported that rocket fire toward northern Israel violated existing ceasefire understandings. In response, Israeli forces carried out retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure and intercepted multiple aerial threats. WATCH