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A Las Vegas police officer who was a Marine veteran was killed Tuesday while responding to a report of an armed person, authorities said. The suspect was also killed in the encounter.

Officers and police drones were sent to a business in the 4500 block of East Tropicana Avenue shortly before 4 p.m. after a caller reported that a person was waving a firearm and appeared to be intoxicated, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING AT IDAHO IN-N-OUT RESTAURANT, SUSPECT DEAD

Police said officers located the armed suspect near Mountain Vista Street and the Interstate 11 underpass. The suspect then opened fire on the officers, prompting at least one officer to return fire.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 30-year-old officer was wounded during the exchange and taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a news briefing.

"A 30-year-old Las Vegas police officer was then worked on heroically by the Clark County Fire Department, other officers and EMS," McMahill said. "He was transported to UMC where nurses worked to save his life."

DEPUTY US MARSHAL FATALLY SHOT WHILE SERVING ARREST WARRANT IN LOUISIANA

"Unfortunately, our officer has passed," the sheriff continued.

McMahill said the officer was a Marine veteran who had served with the police department since November 2023.

"A person who served this country and this community," McMahill said. "As you can imagine, I have lots of grieving police officers and a grieving community."

The police department offered its condolences to the officer’s family and pledged to support them "in every way we can in the days ahead."

Other law enforcement agencies also mourned the officer’s death.

"The Nevada State Police extends our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the fallen officer, and to our partners at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department," the agency said in a Facebook statement. "Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time."

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DETROIT — The Democratic Party's progressive wing was aiming to notch its biggest victory yet Tuesday and deliver a high-profile blow to the center-left establishment in an intensifying ideological battle.

But the anticipated triumph in battleground Michigan's Democratic Senate primary will have to wait.

The race between progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, and Rep. Haley Stevens, a more moderate contender, remained too close to call early Wednesday.

THE MIDTERM SENATE RACES THAT COULD FLIP THE BALANCE OF POWER IN CONGRESS

While the night’s biggest prize remained undecided as five states held primary elections, Democratic establishment candidates scored several victories. Those included Rep. Wesley Bell of Missouri defeating Democratic Socialists of America-backed challenger and former Rep. Cori Bush, a onetime "Squad" member, in a rematch of their 2024 showdown.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's powerful sway over the Republican Party was reaffirmed as two Trump-backed candidates won gubernatorial nominations in Michigan and Kansas.

Here are the top takeaways from a busy primary night across the country.

Verdict still out in high-stakes showdown

"We're going to have to wait a little longer to see the outcome of this race," El-Sayed told supporters at a primary night event in Detroit early Wednesday morning.

El-Sayed, who was backed by prominent progressive leaders including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, held a razor-thin lead over Stevens as votes continued to be counted. Stevens was supported by establishment figures including Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the longtime Senate Democratic leader.

"I know it's been a long night because that's the Michigan way. But I want to give you all an update. We knew that this was going to be a close race, and that's exactly what we've got. A close race," Stevens said.

MIKE ROGERS ARGUES ABDUL EL-SAYED IS 'A SPECIAL SAUCE OF CRAZY'

The race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who backed Stevens, is a must-win contest for Democrats and one of roughly a dozen Senate races expected to determine whether Republicans retain their narrow majority.

Boosted by a string of victories this spring in predominantly Democratic congressional districts, the party’s progressive wing brought its ideological battle with the establishment to the Great Lakes battleground. The combustible and expensive contest became the biggest stage yet in the intraparty fight.

El-Sayed, an epidemiologist who unsuccessfully ran for governor as an insurgent candidate in 2018, would become the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected. He has made support for "Medicare for All" a major component of his campaign.

He has also called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has been a vocal critic of Israel during its war against Hamas, characterizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as "genocide" against Palestinians.

Schumer and other establishment Democrats view Stevens, who flipped a Republican-held district during her first election to Congress in 2018, as more electable than El-Sayed, whose past comments have drawn controversy.

More than $80 million was spent on the primary, making it the most expensive Democratic Senate nomination contest in history. Much of the money came from outside groups supporting Stevens or opposing El-Sayed. The largest spender was United Democracy Project, a political action committee aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

"We all knew that we're going to spend their money. We didn't know they were going to spend $70 million of their money. We didn't know that they were going to outspend us $11 to $1. And yet we're still standing," El-Sayed highlighted in his speech.

El-Sayed urged party unity and took aim at former Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee.

Stevens also targeted Rogers during her primary night speech.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

"Whoever wins is going to go and take on Mike Rogers. Republicans are going to do everything they can to throw all the dirt, all the mud, the kitchen sink at us because they want to keep the U.S. Senate red, so Mike Rogers can keep rubber-stamping Donald Trump's ridiculous agenda," she argued.

The progressive-versus-establishment battle also played out in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a Republican-controlled swing seat that is among roughly two dozen races expected to help determine control of the House.

William Lawrence, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement climate advocacy group, edged out two more moderate Democrats. Lawrence was backed by Sanders and El-Sayed, as well as several prominent progressive groups. He will face Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the general election.

The party’s internal battle was also on display in Michigan’s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District, where the Associated Press had not projected a winner early Wednesday.

Rep. Shri Thanedar, who is supported by top House Democratic leaders, was being challenged by state Rep. Donovan McKinney. McKinney was backed by Sanders, El-Sayed and "Squad" members Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania.

Wins for centrists to cheer

The party’s ideological warfare was front and center in Missouri’s St. Louis-based, heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District.

Bell, who was backed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and other establishment figures, defeated Bush, the former two-term representative whom Bell ousted in the 2024 primary.

DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE FOX NEWS ELECTION HUB

Bell was again boosted by a major infusion of outside money, allowing him to substantially outspend Bush and her allies. Much of the funding and advertising targeting Bush came from United Democracy Project, the super PAC aligned with AIPAC.

Bush was among the first House Democrats to accuse Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians during its war against Hamas in Gaza.

"Two years ago, St. Louis voted for better and more accountable representation. We have kept that promise, whether it's bringing federal resources home to our neighborhoods, standing with working folks when they needed someone in their corner, or helping families cut through red tape," Bell said following his victory. "That work does not stop tonight."

Bush, however, lashed out at Bell, criticizing him for skipping candidate forums and claiming he was controlled by billionaires.

"It pisses me off that for the next two years, this community will be represented by someone that didn't deem you valuable enough to show up to one candidate forum where there were audience comments, even though I showed up to every one," Bush emphasized.

MEET THE FAR LEFT INSURGENTS WAGING WAR ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS

Back in Michigan, two candidates who are far from left-wingers captured Democratic nominations in statewide contests. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic gubernatorial primary in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel was renominated.

"It’s not all that clear that the party has shifted that far to the left," Matt Bennett, one of the leaders at the Third Way, a leading center-left Democratic organization, told Fox News Digital.

Pointing to increasingly intense Democratic opposition to Trump, Bennett said the Michigan Senate result may reflect "a unique situation where candidates matter."

"And in this moment, Democratic voters everywhere are very very angry at Trump and they’re flipping over the tables and taking it out on the establishment and Haley, for better or worse, has run as the establishment."

Trump flexes political muscle

Trump’s clout within the GOP and the power of his endorsements in Republican primaries were tested again Tuesday, and the president’s preferred candidates prevailed in two gubernatorial contests.

Trump-backed Rep. John James of Michigan, a West Point graduate and two-time Republican Senate nominee, defeated multimillionaire businessman Perry Johnson, a former gubernatorial and presidential candidate, to capture the party’s gubernatorial nomination.

James will face Benson in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

In Kansas, Trump-endorsed state Senate President Ty Masterson prevailed in a crowded field of Republican gubernatorial contenders.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited, making the race to succeed her a leading pickup opportunity for Republicans.

Fox News' Matthew Donnell and Luke Trevisan contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump renewed his warning to Iran on Tuesday, saying the U.S. could strike the country "really hard" if negotiations between Washington and Tehran collapse again.

"If they back out again, they're going to get hit really hard," Trump told Fox News' Trace Gallagher. "They know that. They understand that. I have no choice. They can't have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple."

Trump said military action remained an option if diplomacy fails.

TRUMP WARNS IRAN FIGHTING ISN'T OVER AS HE VOWS US WILL 'WIN' AS TALKS FADE

"The hard hit is yet to come, and hopefully we won't have to use it," he said during the interview.

Trump’s comments came days after he held off on a planned military strike on Iran that he said would have been the largest since World War II after Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries requested more time to negotiate over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear program.

"We were going to a tremendous attack, the biggest since World War II, and they called me and said very politely, 'Please, can we talk? Can we talk?' And I said, 'Yes, we can talk. Let's get it done,'" Trump said.

Earlier this week, Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and curb Iran's nuclear program was "imminent."

TRUMP SAYS IRAN DEAL ‘LARGELY NEGOTIATED’ AS 84-DAY WAR NEARS POSSIBLE END

Iranian officials have denied holding direct talks with the United States, saying negotiations are taking place through mediators in Oman. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Iranian and Omani officials had made significant progress toward a potential agreement to reopen the strait, though negotiations remained ongoing.

US OFFICIAL SAYS JD VANCE MADE 'GREAT PROGRESS' IN IRAN TALKS, CALLS SNUB REPORTS 'FOREIGN PROPAGANDA'

Trump described Tuesday’s negotiations as "very good," despite Iran’s repeated public denials that direct talks were underway.

"They don't like to admit that, but, well, you know, it's a little bit disconcerting," he said.

"It's just such a lie," Trump added.

"But it doesn't matter. That's talk. The only thing that matters is action. And they want to make a deal. We'll see what happens. If they don't make a deal, it's going to be too bad."

When asked at what point the U.S. might abandon talks with Iran after negotiations repeatedly collapsed, Trump said he was not in a rush to walk away from diplomacy.

"I have plenty of time," he said.

Trump argued that previous administrations failed to resolve the issue and again criticized the nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama.

TRUMP RECALLS NETANYAHU'S FAILED PUSH TO KILL OBAMA IRAN DEAL, SAYS HE FINISHED THE JOB

"It should have been done by many presidents over many years, and it wasn't, and I'm doing it," Trump said. "Obama was taken to the cleaners."

Trump has previously called the latest round of negotiations Iran’s "last chance" to avoid an escalation of US military action. He has said negotiators will initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz before addressing Tehran’s nuclear program.

Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.

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Brazilian lawmakers preparing to conduct official business found themselves sharing the halls of a state legislature with several uninvited — but unusually relaxed — guests.

A group of capybaras entered the Mato Grosso Legislative Assembly in Cuiabá on July 30, briefly drawing attention away from an upcoming vote as they explored the government building.

Video recorded by legislative staffer Nayara Bueno showed the animals moving calmly through the entrance while workers sought to steer them outside.

BLACK BEAR CAUGHT ON VIDEO WANDERING INTO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT OFFICE AFTER PUSHING OPEN FRONT DOOR

"They show up here quite often, so we’ve gotten used to seeing them," Bueno told The Associated Press.

The rodents' guest appearance did not cause any damage to the Mato Grosso state legislature, according to officials.

The legislature borders a park that is home to wildlife, giving the animals easy access to the surrounding government complex. 

Native to South America, capybaras are semiaquatic mammals commonly found around wetlands and other bodies of water. They are highly social, generally travel in groups and can reach weights of about 175 pounds.

ROGUE PARROT ATTACKS PLAYERS DURING BRAZILIAN U-15 SOCCER GAME-THEN COMES BACK AND DOES IT AGAIN

The world's largest living rodents have also become internet favorites, with social media users frequently highlighting their laid-back behavior around other animals and people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sports have played a crucial role throughout my life. Growing up, I ran cross-country and was coached by my dad in basketball, until I found my true love: volleyball. I loved being a setter to the point that I dreamed about making plays. It taught me the things a sport often does: willpower, loyalty, discipline and how to come back swinging when you get knocked down.

But what I remember most is simply how much I loved it. My obsession even dictated the college I chose, where a devastating injury broke my heart and ended my career. There’s one thing I feel obligated to tell you, though: I was never going to be a collegiate star.

I went to a small school, and I still stand today at my maximum height of 5 feet flat. What I lacked in stature, I assure you, I did not lack in heart. I was a scrappy competitor, and I took losses hard. (Some would say I still do.) I embraced every morning and late night, the bruises and broken bones — not because I was destined to be Division I, but simply because I loved it.

JEMELE HILL TAKES AIM AT SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM AS STORM CONTROVERSY GROWS OVER GIRLS SUPPORTING WOMEN’S SPORTS

I gained friendships, grit, and drive I’m confident I wouldn’t have gained elsewhere. And I say this, admittedly, not as a promising up-and-comer, but just a girl who loved playing. I step into a different court these days, but I still carry the grit that women’s athletics gave me when I walk into a courtroom.

Enter Sophie Cunningham.

In a now-famous ESPN interview, the Indiana Fever star, who calls herself politically "very much in the middle," said she wants to protect young girls "who shouldn’t have to go against biological men." With that love, she added, comes truth.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DOUBLES DOWN AHEAD OF SUN GAME AFTER ESPN PROFILE STIRS CONTROVERSY: 'I SAID WHAT I SAID'

After the media clutched their pearls over her saying biological sex is real, she doubled down, called it "common sense," and posted on Instagram saying, "I said what I said." No apology tour. No caveats. Just the truth, said twice for the people in the back. Her bold stand has sparked an important nationwide conversation in the days since and a whole gamut of supporters and detractors.

This is the courage aspiring female athletes need, especially in a league that partners with Girls in the Game, which says that one of its values is "moving beyond the binary of ‘girl.’" Tell that to the girl who sacrificed everything to reach the podium.

Women’s sports had a banner year. In two cases Alliance Defending Freedom litigated alongside the courageous leadership of Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that sex matters and that states can protect women’s sports under Title IX. That’s a win for every girl in those 27 states.

'SAVE WOMEN'S SPORTS' LEGAL DEFENSE AND TRANS ATHLETE'S ATTORNEYS SPEAK OUT AFTER LANDMARK SCOTUS RULING

But what does this mean for Kallie Keeler in Washington, who had to report a sexual assault after competing against a male wrestler during a match? For Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell, Alanna Smith, and Ashley Nicoletti, still waiting for Connecticut to stand up for the girls who are losing to boys today? For girls in California forced to compete against biologically male athletes like AB Hernandez?

It means we’re coming for the 23 remaining states. A girl’s equal opportunity shouldn’t hinge on her ZIP code. Our daughters deserve better than lawyers who can’t define what a woman is — better than professional athletes with platforms who think it’s fine for men to steal the podium from the girls coming up behind them.

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And they deserve far better than a WNBA co-owner swearing at them for holding a sign that read, "Thank you, Sophie, for speaking up for girls!" The newly suspended Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton forgot that love tells the truth.

But Sophie remembered. At the height of her career, she took a stand for truth while others chose cowardice. Speaking truth should be praised, not punished.

There are young girls who dream of being the next big star. And there are also girls who just love the game like I did. They all deserve fair play. Where are the women willing to stand up, inspire greatness, and tell the truth? Ladies, we’re pointing the finger at you.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM KRISTEN WAGGONER

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A Washington state man was arrested Monday on a first-degree arson charge in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of several wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of structures and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate the Spokane area, authorities said.

Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was taken into custody after Spokane County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Washington Department of Natural Resources investigators developed probable cause to arrest him, according to the sheriff’s office.

Citizen tips and information from Airway Heights police officers and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies who responded to the initial call and conducted evacuations helped lead investigators to Farinacci, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities described Farinacci as a convicted felon from Arizona but said they had found no documented criminal history involving fires.

Investigators have not connected Farinacci to the two other major blazes burning in the area, the Autumn Lane and Fairview fires, officials said.

PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY DRIVEN BY 'SOCIETAL REVENGE,' BEHAVIORAL ANALYST TESTIFIES IN COURT

"We will be looking into any other crimes Mr. Farinacci may have committed in the past," Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said during a news briefing.

Nowels said first-degree arson was the charge supported by probable cause at that stage of the investigation and cautioned that the case could change as authorities gathered additional evidence.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Farinacci and a search warrant for his residence in the 2800 block of West Elliott Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies served the warrant Monday and arrested Farinacci without incident. Authorities said detectives found a butane lighter and waterproof matches while detaining and searching him.

SPENCER PRATT REACTS TO SPOKANE DEVASTATION WITH BLUNT WILDFIRE WARNING AND MESSAGE OF FAITH

Farinacci was booked into the Spokane County Jail and was being held on $1 million bond.

The Old Trails Fire was first reported Saturday near North Old Trails Road and West Euclid Road. It became the largest of three destructive fires burning around Spokane and remained uncontained Monday, according to authorities and wire reports.

The three fires had collectively destroyed at least 700 structures and prompted evacuation orders affecting approximately 67,000 people as of Monday, according to The Associated Press. More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the blazes.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency Saturday amid drought, unusually high temperatures and strong winds. The declaration also imposed a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through Sept. 30.

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Five months into the Iran war, America is winning almost every battle. The harder question is whether we are winning the war.

No one should minimize what the U.S. military has accomplished. American air and naval power have inflicted extraordinary damage on Iran's military infrastructure. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has lost command centers, missile launchers, drone facilities, air defenses, coastal installations, logistics hubs, and key personnel. Our servicemen and women have once again demonstrated unmatched professionalism, precision, and courage.

Those are genuine tactical successes.

I'VE STUDIED MILITARY STRATEGY. TRUMP NOW FACES IRAN'S OLDEST BATTLEFIELD TRICK

But military history teaches a hard lesson: tactical success does not necessarily produce strategic success.

That distinction matters because the strategic center of gravity in this conflict is shifting. In the opening weeks, the focus was rightly on degrading Iran's military and nuclear capabilities. Today, the consequences increasingly extend beyond the battlefield to American credibility at home and abroad.

Iran has shown greater resilience than many anticipated, dispersing forces, hardening underground facilities, shifting to mobile launchers, and continuing to launch missiles and drones despite sustained bombing. Determined adversaries often adapt faster than expected when fighting for regime survival.

IRAN REGIME CHANGE TALK RESURFACES AS TRUMP SAYS TEHRAN 'WANTS TO MEET' AMID US STRIKES

Washington’s campaign appears to assume that destroying Iran’s senior leadership could cause the system to collapse. But the regime’s real source of endurance may run deeper, rooted in a revolutionary Islamist ideology reinforced by the clerical establishment, the IRGC, security organs, patronage networks, and a culture of martyrdom. Leaders can be killed and command posts destroyed, but bombs cannot extinguish an ideology that treats suffering as validation. This doesn't mean American intelligence failed. It may mean Washington's theory of victory placed too much faith in decapitation and physical destruction, when ideologically committed regimes often absorb punishment that planners assume will compel surrender. The real question is whether repeated battlefield success is producing the political outcomes Washington seeks.

That answer is becoming less clear.

Each day brings another successful strike, another destroyed missile site, another IRGC facility reduced to rubble. Yet Iran keeps fighting. The danger isn't that America cannot destroy targets. It is appearing trapped in a cycle of retaliation without a defined political end state.

TRUMP REVEALS THE LINE IRAN HAS TO CROSS FOR US TO RESTART OFFENSIVE MILITARY CAMPAIGN

For President Trump, converting military success into political results is now the central challenge.

Like it or not, President Trump's credibility, and increasingly America's credibility, is becoming the strategic center of gravity. Every warning, every red line, every promise of retaliation is now evaluated not only by Tehran but also by Beijing, Moscow, Pyongyang, Jerusalem, Riyadh, Brussels, and voters here at home.

Credibility is one of America's most valuable strategic assets. It is earned when military action consistently advances defined political objectives. It is weakened when adversaries conclude they can absorb punishment while waiting for Washington's patience, or its public support, to erode.

That domestic support deserves careful attention.

An AP-NORC survey found that roughly two-thirds of Americans believe the war has not been worth fighting, while only about one-third believe it has. Support has softened even among Republicans. Americans increasingly doubt the campaign has a clear destination and worry about its duration, cost, and expansion.

In a democracy, that matters.

Public opinion should never dictate military strategy, but neither can elected leaders indefinitely sustain a costly conflict if Americans lose confidence in its objectives. If these trends continue, Iran could become a consequential midterm issue, especially if voters link it to rising energy costs, strained resources, or distraction from border security, inflation, and China.

America's allies are watching just as closely.

Israel focuses on immediate security. Gulf Arab partners want energy infrastructure and Hormuz navigation protected. NATO allies want assurance that Washington can manage multiple crises without weakening deterrence elsewhere. Indo-Pacific allies are asking whether a war consuming American attention and resources changes Washington's long-term commitment to Asia.

That same question is being studied most carefully in Beijing.

China is analyzing American logistics, missile defense, intelligence, precision strike capability, naval operations, industrial capacity, public opinion, and political endurance, watching how quickly the United States replenishes munitions and how democratic governments sustain support during prolonged conflict.

China is learning about America's strengths.

It is also searching for America's limits.

Beijing may conclude that America can destroy fixed targets but cannot easily convert firepower into political submission, and that dispersed missiles, hardened facilities, and prolonged conflict can strain American inventories and erode domestic consensus. China could apply those lessons in a confrontation over Taiwan.

Russia and North Korea are conducting similar assessments, but China has the greatest stake. Every month Washington remains heavily engaged in the Middle East is another month Beijing gains time to strengthen its own position in the Indo-Pacific. That should concern every American because China, not Iran, poses the greatest long-term challenge to American security and prosperity.

None of this argues for American retreat.

Quite the opposite.

President Trump now has an opportunity to restore strategic momentum by matching military power with a more clearly defined political strategy.

First, define a limited, achievable end state: deny Iran a nuclear-weapons capability, stop attacks on American forces and regional shipping, and make clear that renewed nuclear-weapons activity or attacks on U.S. interests trigger predictable consequences. Regime change should not be the unstated standard for victory.

Second, replace open-ended retaliation with clear deterrence. Washington should state plainly what triggers U.S. strikes, what would produce a pause, and what could open the door to negotiations.

Third, continue denying Iran access to its hardened nuclear infrastructure without committing large American ground forces. Rather than attempt an extraordinarily risky seizure of sites such as Pickaxe Mountain or Fordow, repeatedly deny access by collapsing entrances, cratering routes, maintaining surveillance, and striking renewed excavation.

Fourth, broaden the coalition. Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open should not remain primarily an American responsibility. Gulf partners, NATO allies, and other maritime nations share a vital interest in protecting Hormuz and should contribute more visibly. The burden, and the credibility, should be shared.

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Finally, restore strategic focus. Iran is a dangerous regional power, but China remains America's principal long-term competitor. Washington must contain Tehran without letting the Middle East consume the resources and attention the Indo-Pacific requires.

American military power remains second to none. But bombs can destroy launchers, command centers, and tunnel entrances; they cannot alone compel a revolutionary regime to abandon its purpose.

President Trump’s task is not to bomb Iran until it becomes something it is not. It is to define an achievable objective, deny Tehran its most dangerous capabilities, share the burden with allies, and restore America’s strategic focus.

Military victories are remembered. History judges presidents by whether those victories produce political results, strengthen American credibility, and leave the nation safer.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM ROBERT MAGINNIS

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