A top U.S. counterterrorism official resigned in protest over the Iran conflict, accusing President Trump of launching the war under Israeli pressure. The resignation of Joe Kent, a veteran intelligence officer, marks a significant break within U.S. national security circles over the administration's Middle East policy.

Meanwhile, regional tensions escalated as a projectile struck a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route. Trump rejected allied assistance in securing the waterway, declaring NATO's involvement unnecessary and expressing disappointment in the alliance. The U.S. has turned to Iranian-linked tankers to help stabilize oil prices amid the crisis.

The Senate began a contentious debate on voting restrictions, with Republicans pushing identification requirements despite Democratic opposition. The legislation faces certain defeat but serves as a political showcase. In other news, Pakistan launched deadly airstrikes in Kabul, killing at least 75 people at a drug rehabilitation center, marking the deadliest single attack in the escalating Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict.