Good evening, I'm Aria. We begin tonight with escalating tensions in the Middle East, where former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating it would face a "very bad time" if a peace deal with Israel is not reached soon. Trump’s remarks came during an interview with a French broadcaster, as Israel conducted a series of airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah despite an ongoing 45-day truce. Meanwhile, Israel’s military confirmed it has killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a senior leader of Hamas’ military wing and one of the key architects behind the October 7 attacks, marking a significant blow to the group.

In global defense developments, the Pentagon has abruptly canceled the deployment of 4,200 U.S. troops to Poland, halting plans to replace an armored brigade currently stationed there. Officials have not provided a detailed explanation for the decision, which comes amid shifting military priorities. Meanwhile, along the U.S.-Mexico border, a $1.7 billion contract has been awarded for border security improvements in Texas’ Big Bend National Park, though no physical wall will be constructed. The project will focus on patrol roads and surveillance technology, set to begin in 2026.

In other news, a tragic rescue operation in the Maldives has come to a halt after a military diver died from decompression sickness while searching for four missing Italian divers trapped in an underwater cave. The diver, Mohamed Mahudhee, will be buried with military honors, attended by President Mohamed Muizzu. Closer to home, a former University of South Carolina employee has been convicted of attempting to coerce and entice a minor, following an undercover operation where he communicated with an officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Finally, a devastating freight train collision in Bangkok, Thailand, has left at least eight dead and 35 injured after a train slammed into a public bus, setting vehicles ablaze and scattering debris across the rail crossing. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

This is Aria, signing off.