Emily Jashinsky

Top intelligence officials pressed on Iran threats in a hearing in front of the House Intel Committee, a California bridge intended to save wildlife now sparking backlash over soaring costs and delays.

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani's wife under fire for old social media posts praising terrorists and using offensive slurs.

All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM Update.

Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, briefly spiking to $119 per barrel Thursday before settling near $103 as Iran launches retaliatory strikes targeting oil and gas infrastructure across the Gulf.

The barrage coming after a Wednesday Israeli strike on Iran's South Pars gas field, part of the largest natural gas reserve in the world.

Iran responding by striking Qatar's Ras-Lafin Industrial City, the world's largest liquefied natural gas facility, responsible for roughly 20% of global liquid natural gas, or LNG, supply.

The escalation marking a significant expansion of the conflict into global energy markets.

President Trump, with a lengthy post on Truth Social Wednesday night,

explaining the U.S.

had no prior knowledge of Israel's strike, warning Iran against further attacks on Qatar, threatening additional consequences if escalation continues.

The development's raising new questions about coordination between the U.S.

and Israel, after President Trump has recently said he does not want Iranian oil and gas infrastructure targeted.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth asked about the Israeli strike at a briefing yesterday.

President Trump also addressing the issue yesterday in the Oval Office during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sinae Takeuchi.

As the conflict nears entering its fourth week, the Pentagon now seeking more than $200 billion from Congress to fund Operation Epic Fury, according to a Washington Post report.

The request aimed in part at ramping up weapons production and replenishing U.S.

stockpiles.

President Trump also asked yesterday about that reporting.

Meanwhile, Reuters reporting this week, the president is considering deploying thousands of additional U.S.

troops to the region.