South

Israel strike in Lebanon reportedly kills 4 Hezbollah operatives as region braces for possible Iran attack

Published

1 year ago

September 9, 2024

Israel strike in Lebanon reportedly kills 4 Hezbollah operatives as region braces for possible Iran attack

As Israel braces for a possible attack from Iran, Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday said it carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon, reportedly killing four Hezbollah operatives.

The strike was carried out in the Nabatieh area, where the IDF said its fighter jets targeted a building used by Hezbollah in the Southern Front.

A second building in which Hezbollah operates was also struck in Khiam, the IDF said.

While the IDF did not immediately note any casualties, Lebanese security sources told the AFP that four Hezbollah members were killed in the strike, according to the Times of Israel.

ISRAEL STARES DOWN ‘RING OF FIRE’ AS IRAN PLEDGES RETALIATION

Meanwhile, Israel continues to be attacked while preparing for a potential larger conflict.

Fox News Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported that Hezbollah launched a rocket and drone attack into northern Israel on Monday. First responders reported that shrapnel injured two people, one of them critically.

Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily strikes for the past 10 months. The conflict was sparked after Iranian proxy Hamas carried out a massacre against Israel on Oct. 7, slaughtering 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as world leaders worry that the conflict could boil over into a larger regional war.

BIDEN TO MEET WITH NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AHEAD OF ANTICIPATED IRANIAN ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL

Israel confirmed last week that its forces killed top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas commander Muhammad Deif in recent strikes.

The assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week ratcheted up tensions in the Middle East tinderbox further. Israel has not come out publicly to claim responsibility for the killing, but Iran and Hamas are accusing the Jewish state of being behind it.

Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed to avenge the death of Haniyeh, leading to growing concern that the conflict could spread across the region. (Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images, File)

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said it is “Iran’s duty to avenge Haniyeh’s blood, because he was martyred on our soil.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have reiterated that Israel remains ready for any scenario.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma leaders react after U.S. and Israel launch joint attack on Iran

Published

10 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma leaders react after U.S. and Israel launch joint attack on Iran

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — State leaders are reacting after the United States launched an attack on Iran Saturday morning.

U.S. Senator James Lankford said he is praying for the safety of the American service members involved in the attack.

“Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and has long threatened the United States and our allies. Today’s military actions underscore the seriousness of that threat and the need to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Lankford said. “I’m praying for the safety of every American service member involved in these operations and for their families at home. God bless our troops and God bless America.”

Lankford also said that any Americans in the Middle East should keep an eye out for advisories and guidance from the U.S. Department of State.

U.S. Representative Tom Cole released a statement following the attack:

It’s a time of reckoning for those who chant ‘Death to America.’ President Trump is right when he calls the effort to eradicate Iran’s nuclear weapons program and give its people the opportunity to seize their freedom ‘a noble mission.’ The evil Iranian regime has been the leading state sponsor of terror for decades. It has killed thousands of people within and beyond its borders, including hundreds of Americans. It must be defanged and dismantled.

The President did not take this action lightly or impulsively. He has warned Iran repeatedly that it must change its policies and its actions. He has negotiated with Iran in good faith and with great clarity. It was the Iranian regime that chose to ignore those warnings and make a mockery of those negotiations. In doing so, its tyrannical leaders made an enormous miscalculation.

Our Commander in Chief has made clear that his goal is not just to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It is also to give the Iranian people a chance to take back their country. Self-determination and freedom will be theirs to claim. I hope they will.

Like every American, my thoughts and prayers are with our brave and capable men and women in uniform who are carrying out this noble but hard and dangerous mission. I know that they will have the unwavering support of every American, and I am confident that they will acquit themselves with honor and distinction.

May God protect our troops and the innocent Iranian people – and once again – as He so often has, bless America.

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin said he is praying for the United States’ men and women in uniform in a post on Saturday.

“May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform—the greatest peacekeeping force in the history of the world. Americans are praying for your safety in this mission,” Mullin said.

U.S. Representative Kevin Hern said the Iranian regime is a threat to the U.S. and President Trump was left with no other choice than to take action.

As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime is an active threat to the United States, our allies, and stability across the Middle East.”

Iran’s refusal to accept a deal left President Trump with no choice other than to take decisive action to ensure the regime never possesses a nuclear weapon. There is no peace without strength, and the United States will not sit by while this regime pursues their nuclear ambitions, fuels their terrorist proxies, and brutalizes the Iranian people. I’m praying for our brave troops in the region. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a social media post that his prayers are with President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth as they work to achieve a safer world.

“God bless and protect the men and women of the United States military engaged in the Middle East this weekend. My prayers are with our military, President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our Generals, as they use American force to achieve a safer world for the future of our children and grandchildren,” Drummond said.

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South-Carolina

Men’s Golf Visits South Carolina for Colleton River Collegiate

Published

34 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Men’s Golf Visits South Carolina for Colleton River Collegiate

BLUFFTON, S.C. – Kentucky men’s golf begins the month of March at the Colleton River Collegiate this Sunday and Monday at Colleton River Club (par 72, 7403 yards).

UK joins a 15-team field for the 54-hole event, which will consist of 36 holes of continuous play on Sunday, followed by 18 holes on Monday. An 8 a.m. shotgun start will kick things off on Sunday, while Monday’s final round will begin with another shotgun start, this time at 7:45 a.m.

UK is paired with Indiana, Kansas State and Ohio State for the first day of play.

The Wildcats will utilize the same starting five, albeit in a different order, as was featured at the Watersound Invitational just two weeks ago. There, the Cats finished seventh in a loaded field and found themselves as high as third place during the final nine holes.

Sophomore Jacob Settles had the best showing of his collegiate career, finishing tied for seventh at 5-under par, while senior captain Jack Schoenberger had his highest finish of the season, placing tied for 14th at 2-under.

Jacob Lang, Luke Coyle and Cole Stockard will complete UK’s starting five alongside Settles and Schoenberger, the fourth time in six events the Wildcats have featured this starting unit.

Freshman Cameron Phillips will tee it up as an individual once again after an impressive showing in the same role at the Watersound where he tied for 29th and had two rounds under par.

Fans can follow along with live scoring on the Scoreboard Powered by Clippd website.

Kentucky Lineup:

Jack Schoenberger: Senior, Alpharetta, Ga
Jacob Lang: Sophomore, Alvaton, Ky.
Jacob Settles: Sophomore, Winchester, Ky
Luke Coyle: Junior, Campbellsville, Ky.
Cole Stockard: Freshman, Dalton, Ga.
Ind. Cameron Phillips: Freshman, Portsmouth, Ohio

Competing Schools (15): Chattanooga, Cincinnati, ETSU, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers

For the latest on UK Men’s Golf follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram @UKmensgolf, and online at ukathletics.com.

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Tennessee

Tennessee officials react to strikes, operations in Iran on Feb. 28

Published

46 minutes ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee officials react to strikes, operations in Iran on Feb. 28

The United States launched military strikes and “major combat operations” against Iran on Feb. 28, President Donald Trump said, targeting the country’s missile capabilities.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” Trump said, calling the strikes “a massive and ongoing operation.”

The attack follows weeks of rising tensions as Trump repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if negotiations over its nuclear and missile development programs fail.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was directly targeted, a Middle Eastern official familiar with the matter told USA TODAY. Khamenei’s fate was unknown.

Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against American and Israeli targets after the joint U.S.-Israeli attack, hitting a U.S. Navy base in Bahrain. Iran said its enemies would be “decisively defeated.”

Images from Tehran early Saturday showed smoke rising from the Iranian capital as residents ran for cover. Iran said 40 people were killed in a strike at a girl’s school in the south.

Officials from the Volunteer State reacted.

‘It’s time,’ says Sen. Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, praised the operation on Saturday morning, Feb. 28.

“The Iranian regime has chanted ‘Death to America’ for decades,” she said, in a statement on X. “It’s time to end the reign of terror.”

Alongside her statement, she shared the announcement made by Trump early Saturday morning.

“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard terrible people,” Trump said in a video statement, which he delivered from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The Trump administration has for weeks held negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program while also building up its military presence in the region. Tehran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions, the U.S. president said, prompting the overnight airstrikes, which sent smoke plumes over Iran.

“They just wanted to practice evil,” Trump said in the video posted on social media. “And we can’t take it anymore.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann support the operation in Iran

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty stated his support for the operation.

“The world knows the death and destruction that Iran has perpetrated for decades,” he said, in a statement on social media. “The regime must be held accountable.

“(Trump) knows that strength—not weakness—brings peace. The president will not pass the buck to avoid necessary decisions to protect the American people. May God bless America, our Service Members, and our Allies.”

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann echoed Hagerty.

“For decades, Iran and its theocratic dictatorship have been the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, threatening the United States and the peace of the world,” he said on social media. “President Trump will always defend America’s national security and interests. May God bless the men and women of our armed forces and our coalition partners.”

Rep. Andy Ogles thanks Trump and Israeli Prime Minister

U.S. Rep Andy Ogles thanked Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for the operation.

“I firmly stand with the people of Iran and support their right to take their country back from the mass murderer the Ayatollah. Thank you (Trump) and the White House for your leadership and (Netanyahu) for your partnership in securing freedom in the region.”

However, not everyone agreed with the strikes.

State legislator calls strikes ‘dangerous’

Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, called the strikes “dangerous for us all.”

“The leader of his proclaimed ‘Board of Peace’ is dragging us into an illegal war to deflect from his failures and profit donors in the war industry,” he said. “We are being led by a madman with no check from Congress and no clear justification to the American people.”

Gov. Bill Lee has not yet released a statement or responded to requests for comment.

The reactions are nearly identical to previous reactions when Trump announced a number of strikes on Iran in June 2025, which Trump called a “spectacular success.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

The former Fox News host turned Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who is also a resident of Tennessee, kept his comment brief as of the morning of Feb 28, simply resharing a post from the Department of War’s official account stating, in all caps, “OPERATION EPIC FURY” beside an American flag emoji.

Hegseth lives in Sumner County, and last week spoke the National Religious Broadcasters Conference in Nashville, where he cited claims at the center of widespread dispute about the intent of America’s founding documents and forefathers to shape civic life according to certain Christian ethics.

This is a developing story.

Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham

Francesca Chambers, Kim Hjelmgaard, Will Carless, Sarah D. Wire, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Bart Jansen and Jeanine Santucci of USA Today contributed to this report.

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