Tearful farewells played out across Southern California last week as thousands of Marines shipped out to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. At Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, families hugged,

“Dear citizens of Israel — we are at the midway point, but the direction is clear,” Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said. “In about a week, on Passover, the Festival of Freedom, we will continue to fight for our freedom and our future.”

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is considering ‘winding down’ the Middle East military operation, but his statement seemed at odds with his administration’s move to send more troops and warships to the region.

The move comes after the Pentagon last week ordered the USS Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and 31st MEU to transit to the Middle East.

The first Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is coming from the Pacific, is still making its way toward the region.

Iran is threatening recreational and tourist sites worldwide and insisting it is still building missiles three weeks into an escalating war in the Middle East.

The Palestinian militant group, which has ties to both Iran and Qatar, is “walking on a knife’s edge,” an analyst said.

The Kremlin says Ukraine peace talks are on a 'situational pause' as Zelenskyy signals a Ukrainian team could resume negotiations as soon as Saturday.

The Pentagon is sending three warships and thousands of additional Marines to the Middle East, even as President Trump insists he won’t put American boots on the ground in Iran, according to U.S. officials.

By Robert Harvey and Georgina McCartney LONDON/HOUSTON, March 19 (Reuters) - If you want to buy a cargo of oil in Asia or jet fuel in Europe right now, you may have to pay a record price for it. Surging oil prices in physical markets - the trading place for oil on ships,