Good evening. Tensions in the Middle East intensified as Iran warned U.S. ground forces would be “set on fire” if they invaded, even as the first U.S. Marines arrived in the region aboard the USS Tripoli this weekend. The deployment is part of reinforcements President Trump said would give him more options as the conflict enters a second month. The U.S. and its partners say they have struck thousands of targets and pushed back many missile launches, but Iran has continued attacks across the region, including drone strikes on Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
From Tel Aviv, Holly Williams reported that Iran again targeted Kuwait’s main airport with drones; Kuwaiti officials said there were no casualties. New details emerged about an Iranian strike on a Saudi base that left at least a dozen American service members injured. Photographs circulated showing heavy wreckage at the site, including a badly damaged AWACS surveillance aircraft, though the Pentagon has not confirmed specific aircraft losses. Retired Israeli general Amir Avivi told CBS News he believes Iran’s regime could eventually fall, and if it does not, Israel and the U.S. could continue pressure — including air operations and support for internal opposition — a scenario reminiscent of long U.S. campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Protests in Tel Aviv over the war led to arrests when police broke up demonstrations.
The human toll continues to mount. The World Health Organization said more than 3,000 people have died so far, with the majority of fatalities reported in Iran and Lebanon. The conflict has driven energy prices and inflation fears higher, and Wall Street has pulled back as markets price in renewed Middle East risk.
President Trump offered mixed public messages over the weekend. While traveling in Florida he twice told reporters the U.S. has “already won” and that Iran was “desperate to make a deal,” he simultaneously approved additional troop and equipment movements to the region. Critics warn that increasing troop levels risks deeper U.S. involvement. Mr. Trump said he wants the war “wrapped up” within four to six weeks; the White House emphasized that current force deployments reflect Pentagon planning steps, not final decisions. CBS News reported the Pentagon has struck thousands of targets — and in a separate account said more than 11,000 targets had been hit — while Israel says it has neutralized many ballistic missiles even as Iran retains the ability to absorb and respond to strikes.
The conflict has hit Americans at home. Three members of the Ohio National Guard who died after a refueling-plane crash in the Iraqi desert were honored following the tragic loss of six service members. On the economic front, higher gasoline prices and market volatility are squeezing household budgets and retirement accounts.
Domestic: TSA staffing and travel disruptions
A partial government shutdown has produced staffing shortages across the Department of Homeland Security, creating long security lines at major airports. More than 500 TSA officers resigned or called out since the shutdown began, producing surge crowds and chaotic scenes at some hubs. President Trump signed a memorandum to pay TSA officers and the first back paychecks were expected soon, but CBS reported that temporary fixes — including deploying ICE agents for crowd control at some airports — and protections for unpaid officers may not immediately resolve the staffing gaps or travelers’ complaints. Lawmakers remain divided over how to fund the department and whether to pair funding with broader immigration-enforcement reforms.
Space: Artemis 2 readies lunar flyby
NASA prepared to launch Artemis 2 from Kennedy Space Center, using the same pad once used by Apollo. Commander Reid Wiseman and crewmates Jeremy, Christina and Victor were in quarantine as teams completed final checks. The nine-day mission will carry astronauts around the far side of the moon and return with a splashdown off San Diego, serving as a rehearsal for a planned crewed lunar landing later this decade. NASA said the flight will take humans farther from Earth than any prior mission — roughly 253,000 miles — and launch officials expected large crowds at Cape Canaveral. Weather, particularly lightning and wind limits, remained the final gating factors.
Air travel and weather outlook
CBS meteorologist Andrew Kozak said Florida’s weather during 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 mild conditions across the East.
Warfare technology: drones reshape conflict
From London, Haley Ott reported that drone warfare has upended modern combat. Ukraine has become a proving ground for inexpensive, massed drone attacks that can overwhelm costly interceptor systems. Poland, concerned about Shahed-style drones, is building nationwide anti-drone defenses that combine specialized radars, software and mobile interceptors to handle swarms. Experts told CBS that the economics of air defense matter: relying on multimillion-dollar interceptors to stop cheap drones is unsustainable, so layered, cost-effective defenses are essential.
Culture, sports and technology highlights
– Nationwide “No Kings” rallies drew large crowds, with organizers saying millions participated across all 50 states; thousands gathered in Minnesota where Bruce Springsteen appeared in St. Paul.
– College basketball: The Final Four is set after UConn defeated Duke; Arizona and Michigan advanced in the other bracket. Attention now shifts to Indianapolis for next weekend’s games.
– Joseph Baena, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, won three gold medals in his bodybuilding debut.
– eVTOLs and the future of commuting: Silicon Valley companies are racing to develop electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. CBS reported from Point Reyes and Palo Alto on single-seat recreational models like the Helix, and on planned multi-passenger eVTOLs for urban air mobility. Experts say integrating these aircraft into national airspace will be complex, but early pilot programs and licensing pathways are progressing.
That’s the CBS Weekend News for Sunday. Have a great week.