ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday, including the US military standing ready to carry out potential strikes on Iran as early as Saturday, officials telling The Wall Street Journal that the US has decided to pull its remaining troops from Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordering the Home Front Command to prepare for a possible war with Iran, Israel preparing for the possibility of receiving a green light from the US to launch an attack on Iran’s ballistic missile system, and White House officials stressing that diplomacy remains President Donald Trump’s “first option” with Iran as he consults widely on next steps.

TOP STORIES

• US military ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday: Officials

The US military stands prepared to carry out potential strikes on Iran as early as Saturday, senior national security officials have informed President Donald Trump, according to a report.

The officials, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity, said Trump has not yet reached a final decision on whether to authorize such action.

The sources added that the timeline for any potential operation is expected to extend beyond the weekend.

• US to withdraw all troops from Syria: Report

The US has decided to pull its remaining troops from Syria, which number around 1,000, after gradual drawdowns over the past months, a report said.

Citing US officials, The Wall Street Journal said the withdrawal is expected to take place over the next two months. The report said Washington concluded that a US military presence in Syria is no longer required, citing the near-complete dissolution of the YPG/SDF and its subsequent integration into the Syrian state structure, rendering the original US mission to fight ISIS (Daesh) via local partners effectively over.

• 'Maximum alert': Netanyahu orders Home Front Command to prepare for potential war with Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Israeli Home Front Command to prepare for a potential war with Iran, Israeli media reported.

Netanyahu issued directives to “various rescue agencies and the Home Front Command to prepare for war,” according to the Yedioth Ahronot daily.

The newspaper added that “a state of maximum alert has been declared across various Israeli security agencies.”

• Israel prepares for possible US green light to strike Iran’s ballistic missile system: Public broadcaster

Israel is preparing for the possibility of receiving a green light from the US to launch an attack on Iran’s ballistic missile system, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said.

The broadcaster noted that the scenario of Israel striking Iran’s ballistic missiles comes amid widespread focus on whether US President Donald Trump will order the attack on Iran.​​​​​​​

• White House says diplomacy is Trump's 'first option' with Iran; president 'talking to many people' about options

Diplomacy is US President Donald Trump's "first option" with respect to negotiations with Iran, the White House said, acknowledging that he is "talking to many people" about potential military strikes.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said there are "many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran," pointing to attacks the president ordered in June against nuclear facilities that the administration maintains "totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear program.

"The President has always been very clear, though, with respect to Iran or any country around the world. Diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with this administration. He's talking to many people, of course, his national security team first and foremost," she told reporters.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• ​​​​​​​Peru’s Congress elected leftist lawmaker Jose Maria Balcazar as the country’s new interim president, a day after lawmakers removed his predecessor amid corruption allegations.
• Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi retained her position as the country's first female premier after parliament reelected her following her ruling party's landslide victory in recent snap elections.
• An invitation to the first Gaza Peace Board meeting has been received and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend, said Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• The third round of trilateral peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, brokered by the US, concluded in Geneva after nearly two hours.
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told jurors during his first courtroom testimony centered on child safety that the company did not design Instagram to be addictive for young users, rejecting claims that the platform harms children.
• The UN warned that children in Sudan remain at grave risk as violence continues to be "unchecked" after at least 15 children were reportedly killed and 10 others wounded in a drone strike Monday on a displacement camp in Al Sunut in West Kordofan.
• France’s left-wing political party La France Insoumise (LFI) evacuated its national headquarters following a bomb threat.
• A report prepared by the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission, established at the Turkish parliament in line with the goal of a “terror-free Türkiye,” was adopted by a majority vote.
• At least 37 people have died following a suspected toxic gas explosion at a mining site in Company Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State in north-central Nigeria, local sources said.
• The Bureau of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People strongly condemned Israel's decision to resume land registration procedures in the occupied West Bank, warning the move could further dispossess Palestinian landowners.
• The US State Department announced additional visa restrictions targeting Iranian officials and telecommunications leaders accused of playing a role in suppressing nationwide protests and restricting internet access in Iran.
• US President Donald Trump urged the United Kingdom not to give away Diego Garcia, warning America may need the island and a British airfield if Iran refuses to make a deal.
• US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan visited Venezuela.
• Peru’s Congress voted to censure the country's interim president, effectively ending the brief tenure of Jose Jeri after just over four months in office.
• Canada amends Syria sanctions, lifts broad economic prohibitions linked to the former Assad regime.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow does not accept sanctions against Cuba.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, over the phone to discuss the developments in indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States.
• Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree granting a general amnesty for some crimes and reducing sentences for others, according to a statement.
• Turkish and Bulgarian geologists participating in Türkiye’s 10th National Antarctic Science Expedition have launched a joint research initiative to uncover Antarctica’s geological history and assess its implications for future climate change.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Trump says Japan to invest in oil, gas, critical mineral projects under July trade deal

US President Donald Trump said Japan is moving ahead with the first tranche of investments under its $550 billion commitment as part of the trade deal announced in July last year, highlighting three “tremendous” projects in oil, gas and critical minerals in the US.

"Our MASSIVE Trade Deal with Japan has just launched," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

He added that the investment pledge by Tokyo was part of "our Historic Trade Deal to REVITALIZE the American Industrial Base, create HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of GREAT American Jobs, and strengthen our National and Economic Security like never before."

"Today, I am pleased to announce three TREMENDOUS Projects in the Strategic Areas of Oil & Gas in the Great State of Texas, Power Generation in the Great State of Ohio, and Critical Minerals in the Great State of Georgia," he said.

• US Treasury announces initiative to strengthen cybersecurity, risk management for AI

The US Treasury Department announced a public-private initiative to strengthen cybersecurity and risk management for artificial intelligence.

"In support of the President’s AI Action Plan, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced the conclusion of a major public-private initiative to strengthen cybersecurity and risk management for artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial services sector," the agency said in a statement.

It noted that in the course of the month, the agency will release six resources developed in partnership with industry and federal and state regulatory partners to enable "secure and resilient" AI across the US financial system.

• France reports data breach affecting 1.2 million bank accounts

French authorities announced that personal data from roughly 1.2 million bank accounts were accessed by a malicious actor following unauthorized access to the national bank account database FICOBA in late January.

The Ministry of the Economy said in a statement that the breach involved an official’s credentials being misused, allowing the actor to view account details, account holder identities, addresses, and in some cases, tax identification numbers.

• Airbnb offers $750 incentive to new hosts for FIFA World Cup 2026

Airbnb launched its largest incentive program to date, offering $750 to new hosts who welcome guests during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The initiative targets residents in the 16 host cities across Canada, Mexico and the US to address the surging demand for accommodations.

Official data indicated that searches for stays in these locations have already increased by an average of 80% compared to the same period last year.