Watch live: Hegseth, Caine brief on Iran war as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine will speak with reporters Friday morning as tensions remain high over the conflict in Iran and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The briefing also comes after President Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their temporary truce for another three weeks. He expanded the fragile ceasefire with Iran “indefinitely” earlier this week.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, also touted early Friday that the Pentagon has three aircraft carriers operating in the Middle East for the “first time in decades.”

The press conference is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. EDT.

Watch the live video above.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Senators to introduce Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act for SNAP recipients

GOP senators ratchet up pressure on Speaker Johnson to quickly end DHS shutdown

2 GOP senators break ranks on final Senate budget vote

4 GOP senators vote against adding SAVE America Act to budget package

Gunboat diplomacy ramps up in Hormuz Strait, endangering shaky ceasefire

‘Flashing red’ warning signs for GOP put Senate in play

2 Republicans break with party as GOP defeats budget amendment to lower health ...

Navy secretary’s removal points to Trump’s anxiety over shipbuilding

Democrats worry they may be taking the wrong lesson from recent wins

3 GOP senators break with leaders over addressing insurance companies’ denial ...

Collins, Sullivan break with Senate GOP leaders on amendment to reverse SNAP ...

Justice Department targets citizens in new denaturalization push

Liberals shocked! San Francisco fixed its subway by stopping crime 

5 takeaways from first major California governor’s debate after Swalwell exit

House Republicans grumbling about ‘skinny’ ICE funding package complicates ...

Trump faces conservative blowback over Spirit Airlines rescue

Live updates: Hegseth, Caine hold Pentagon briefing amid ceasefire

House Judiciary Democrats demand Patel take alcohol disorders test following ...

The Hill Podcasts – Morning Report

© The Hill