Top Stories • April 24, 2026

At the Pentagon this morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces are prepared to use force to secure the Strait of Hormuz as tensions continue to rise. President Trump has extended the Israel–Lebanon ceasefire by three weeks, though the agreement is facing resistance, with Israeli strikes continuing in southern Lebanon. On the diplomatic front, Iran’s foreign minister is heading to Islamabad for possible talks with the United States. Meanwhile, oil prices are surging, with Brent crude trading between roughly $104 and $107 a barrel after briefly nearing $110, driven by growing fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

Daniel Compatangelo reports.