Quill Lawrence

forces traded attacks this week, but the White House maintains that a four-week-old ceasefire continues and therefore congressional approval is not needed for the war.

Iranian negotiators haven't announced a reply to the latest U.S.

proposal to end the war, and the demands of both sides still appear far apart.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

Southcom posted surveillance video on social media showing a small boat it claimed was carrying narcotics exploding into flames.

Two people were killed in a similar strike on Monday in the Caribbean.

and nearly 200 have been killed this way since September.

The Trump administration announced last year that it is at war with transnational drug cartels, and that allows the military to kill suspected traffickers without trial.

Human rights advocates say it's murder.

The White House claims it has prevented hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States, but government data show most drug deaths in the U.S.

are from fentanyl, which comes mostly overland from Mexico.

Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

At a news briefing, Hegseth said U.S.

forces have opened a safe passage for tankers through the strait.

He said the Iranian boats that have attacked ships there and the U.S.

destruction of those boats doesn't cross the threshold of restarting major combat operations and don't mean an end to the ceasefire, which might trigger a need for congressional approval to continue the war.

Hegses said the U.S.

mission to protect a free shipping lane was temporary.

and other countries should take over.

We hope South Korea would step up, just like we hope Japan would step up, just like we hope Australia would step up, just like we hope Europe steps up.