Good evening. Iran warned that U.S. ground forces would be “set on fire” if they invaded, as the first U.S. Marines arrived in the region this weekend aboard the USS Tripoli, part of reinforcements President Trump said give him more options as the conflict enters a second month. The U.S. and its partners say they have struck thousands of targets in Iran and pushed back many missile launches, but Iran continues attacks across the region, including strikes on Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Holly Williams, reporting from Tel Aviv, said Iran again targeted Kuwait’s main airport with drones; Kuwaiti officials reported no casualties. New details emerged about an Iranian attack on a Saudi base that left at least a dozen American service members injured. Photographs circulated of wreckage at the site, including a badly damaged AWACS surveillance plane. There has been no Pentagon confirmation on specific aircraft damage. Retired Israeli general Amir Avivi told CBS News he thinks Iran’s regime could surrender eventually, but if it does not, Israel and the U.S. could press on, including helping Iranians seek regime change through air operations and by supporting internal opposition — a prospect Americans associate with the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Tel Aviv, protests against the war drew arrests when police broke up demonstrations.
The conflict’s human cost keeps rising. The World Health Organization said more than 3,000 people have been killed so far, most in Iran and Lebanon. Energy prices and inflation fears have climbed, and Wall Street has retreated as markets try to price renewed Middle East risk.
President Trump continued to send mixed messages. Traveling in Florida, he twice told reporters the U.S. has “already won” the war and that Iran was “desperate to make a deal,” even while additional troops and equipment headed to the region. Critics worry that escalating troop levels could deepen U.S. involvement. President Trump said he wants the war “wrapped up” within four to six weeks; the White House insists force deployments are Pentagon planning steps and not a final decision. CBS News reported that the Pentagon has hit more than 11,000 targets in Iran and that Israel says it has neutralized many ballistic missiles, but that Iran is still capable of withstanding and responding to strikes.
The conflict has touched Americans at home, too. Three fallen members of the Ohio National Guard were honored after returning from a refueling-plane crash in the Iraqi desert that killed six service members. And Americans are feeling economic pain: gas-price increases and market volatility are pressing on both wallets and retirement accounts.
Domestic: TSA pay update and travel chaos
A partial government shutdown has produced staffing shortages across the Department of Homeland Security and long security lines at major airports. More than 500 TSA officers had resigned since the shutdown began, and many called out sick; some airports saw surge crowds and chaotic scenes. President Trump signed a memorandum to pay TSA officers, and the first back paychecks were expected soon, but CBS reported that temporary fixes — like deploying ICE agents for crowd control at some hubs — and protections for unpaid officers may not immediately resolve staffing gaps or the “security nightmare” travelers faced. Lawmakers remain split over proposals to fund the department and broader immigration-enforcement reforms.
Space: Artemis 2 set for moon flyby
NASA prepared to send four astronauts around the moon on Artemis 2, a mission launching from the Kennedy Space Center from the same pad used by Apollo. Commander Reid Wiseman and crewmates Jeremy, Christina and Victor were in quarantine as final checks wrapped up. Artemis 2 will fly around the far side of the moon and return nine days later in a splashdown off San Diego — a rehearsal for a planned crewed lunar landing later this decade. Mark Strassmann reported the mission’s systems, ground teams, and flight operations were ready; weather and strict lightning/wind limits remain the final gating items. NASA said this nine-day flight will push humans farther from Earth than any prior mission — about 253,000 miles — and launch officials expected big crowds at Cape Canaveral.
Air travel and weather
CBS meteorologist Andrew Kozak said Florida weather for the Artemis 2 window looked mostly cloudy but within limits. He also warned of critical fire danger in parts of the West, showers and thunderstorms in the Pacific Northwest, and a mild pattern in the East.
Warfare technology: drones reshape conflict
In a report from London, Haley Ott described how drone warfare has upended modern conflict, citing Ukraine’s battlefield as a proving ground for cheap, massed drone attacks that challenge expensive interceptor systems. Poland, bordering Ukraine and focused on countering Iranian-style Shahed drones, is building nationwide anti-drone defenses combining specialized radars, software, and mobile interceptors to handle swarms. Experts told CBS that air-defense economics matter: using multimillion-dollar Patriot missiles to stop inexpensive drones is unsustainable; layered, cost-effective defenses are necessary.
Culture, sports and technology
– The No Kings rallies drew large, nationwide protests; organizers said millions turned out across all 50 states, and thousands gathered in Minnesota where Bruce Springsteen performed in St. Paul as part of a large demonstration.
– College basketball: The Final Four was set. UConn defeated Duke, and in the other bracket races Arizona and Michigan advanced; next weekend’s matchups left fans focused on Indianapolis for the big games.
– Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Joseph Baena, made headlines in bodybuilding, winning three gold medals in his debut competition.
– The future of commuting: Silicon Valley companies are racing to develop electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs). CBS reported from Point Reyes and Palo Alto on single-seat models like the Helix and other personal eVTOLs designed for short recreational flights, plus multi-passenger eVTOLs planned for urban air mobility, including Olympic shuttles. Experts said integrating eVTOLs into the national airspace will be complex, but early pilot programs and licensing pathways are moving forward.
That’s the CBS Weekend News for this Sunday. Have a great week.