The Hormuz Letter

BREAKING: The US Army is now training soldiers to dig mass battlefield graves for American troops for the first time since the Korean War, practicing the burial of 2,400 bodies in under 24 hours in open pits, per a US Army release. Engineers, preventive medicine teams, chaplains and fatality management specialists excavated and filled burial trenches without damaging mock remains, so forensic teams could unearth and repatriate them after a conflict, simulating how to handle mass casualties as Trump's Iran war continues. The Army said that for more than twenty years in Iraq and Afghanistan, US air superiority allowed remains to be flown home quickly, and that future conflicts may not have the same capabilities.

BREAKING: Trump has just cancelled all rallies this weekend, per NBC News. Those include his Saturday rally in Kansas, and his Sunday rally in Dubuque, Iowa, just 5 days before the midterms. Only Daytona Beach tomorrow remains, with no events announced for Monday.

BREAKING: Trump administration plans to strike Iran directly after next week's US midterm elections, with CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper briefing Trump in a rare in-person meeting on military options at the White House today, per WSJ. Senior US officials say Cooper rarely briefs Trump in person, unless a significant military operations is to be carried out shortly. It followed a Wednesday session in which the military officers met Vice President JD Vance. Sen. Chris Murphy, who says he has been briefed on some of the classified planning, called the plans "insane." "It will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law," he says.

BREAKING: Sen. Chris Murphy was briefed on highly classified military planning on Iran to restart the war after the midterms, calling the plans "insane." "I will just say this: their plan is insane. It will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law," he said at the Middle East Institute event. The plan "will be devastating for our security interests," he adds.

BREAKING: Iran has received a personal letter from US Vice President JD Vance addressed to the Secretary of its Supreme National Security Council, per state media Tasnim. Iran has not responded. "The US must implement the seven conditions set by Iran, and any position contradicting that framework is unacceptable," Iran said. Vance said the letter stressed that any negotiations to head off US strikes would require discussions on the nuclear issue. Iran said last week that not a single particle of enriched nuclear material would leave Iran.

BREAKING: Australia urges all its citizens to stockpile canned food and bottled water to prepare for emergencies, per Yahoo News Australia. It comes after the UK urged the public to stock up on three days' worth of supplies amid the growing threat of war last week. Japan, Germany, Sweden and Norway have also told its citizens to prepare for emergencies.

BREAKING: Air France suspends all flights to Riyadh until December 12 and to Dubai until November 7, citing the evolving security situation and potential escalation.

BREAKING: Pentagon investigates suspected cyberattack after freezers at 6 US military bases mysteriously malfunctioned, spoiling large quantities of food, per Reuters. In at least one of the cases, the freezers did not simply stop working. Instead, the cooling units’ temperatures were cranked up overnight, yielding massive amounts of wilted or melted food in the morning. It comes as the Pentagon prepares every major US military base to operate for at least 90 days without outside electricity, fuel, water or supplies, anticipating a major war.

BREAKING: Israel asks US for approval to strike Iranian energy facilities as soon as possible, per Kan 11. Netanyahu is seeking Trump's green light for targets the US has not yet authorized.

BREAKING: Hegseth fires the Pentagon's chief planner, Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, per The Atlantic. Defense officials said the main reason for the firing was that he clashed repeatedly with Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's top civilian for policy, causing Hegseth to lose confidence in Sylvia. Colby is the official who said in August the US is reviewing the strategy for the specific and potential use of nuclear weapons. He is at least the 5th general pushed out this year, each holding a key position.

BREAKING: US National Guard units in all 50 states are now quietly "mobilizing for next week's elections," per Ken Klippenstein. The mission covers direct observation of ballot drop boxes and polling places, plus federal cybersecurity support. It is the first time in US history the National Guard is being deployed at this scale ahead of elections. Hegseth ordered military spy agencies to "mobilize every asset … to defend our election" so that "every lawful voter can cast their ballot free from foreign intimidation, coercion, or fear."

BREAKING: US military is preparing for the possibility of a major war that could cripple power grids, disrupt supply chains and threaten critical infrastructure on US soil, per NY Post. It comes as Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino tells Americans to take the emergency preparedness warnings seriously, saying "Get your stuff today. Please. Do it for your family."

BREAKING: The Federal Reserve holds interest rates at 3.75-4.00% in a 10-2 vote.

BREAKING: Netanyahu's Likud officially claims Israel's election was completely stolen by Arab parties through widespread electoral fraud, alleging bribery, intimidation, violence, double voting and ballot manipulation. Netanyahu says he is submitting hundreds of testimonies to the police, Shin Bet and the Central Elections Committee and demanding an immediate investigation. With more than 93% counted, Netanyahu's bloc stands at 53 seats and Eisenkot's at 48. Neither reaches the 61 needed to govern. It comes as Trump allies continue to discuss keeping Netanyahu on as caretaker prime minister, restart the Iran war and seek to force another vote.

BREAKING: US issues final warning to Iran, telling Tehran it can avoid a strike only by handing its highly enriched uranium over to the United States, ending all attacks and military operations across the region, and opening the Strait of Hormuz, per Channel 12. Iran rejected the proposals, which were delivered by Qatari mediators today. "The only thing we received is a list of unacceptable ideas. We will not compromise on the nuclear issue," a senior Iranian official told Reuters. Iran said last week that not a single particle of enriched nuclear material would leave Iran. It comes as the US and Israel are readying to launch heavy joint combat operations against Iran right after the midterm elections.

BREAKING: US and Israel are readying to launch heavy joint combat operations against Iran right after the midterm elections, with Trump leaning toward a large strike on Iranian nuclear and infrastructure targets immediately after November 3, per the WSJ. It comes as Netanyahu said minutes ago during his speech "We will remove the Iranian threat forever in cooperation with President Trump."

BREAKING: Netanyahu's coalition now projected to lose its parliamentary majority, per exit polls. Eisenkot's bloc also falls short of 61 seats, leaving neither side able to form a government. It comes Trump allies are discussing plans to keep Netanyahu on as caretaker prime minister, restart the Iran war and seek to force another vote.

BREAKING: Netanyahu's Likud leads in all five Israeli exit polls, by 2–11 seats over Eisenkot's Yashar. Channel 12: 24–22 Channel 13: 25–23 Kan 11: 25–21 i24NEWS: 27–20 Channel 14: 30–19

BREAKING: Netanyahu's request to extend voting hours is officially rejected by Israel's election commission. Polls will close as scheduled. "It was ruled that, as things stand, there is no justification for extending the voting hours. The high national turnout figures in all populations testify to the public's high involvement in the democratic process."

BREAKING: Japan to urge all citizens to stockpile at least 3 days of food and water in preparation for major disasters and events, with an official emergency request set for November 2. "At least three days, and I'd like to say a week if possible… please prepare food, toilets, and water properly at home even without public assistance," Japan's Disaster Management says. It comes just 2 days after the Pentagon started to prepare every major US military base to operate for at least 90 days without outside electricity, fuel, water or supplies, anticipating a major war. The UK launched the "Be Ready" program 5 days ago, also advising all citizens to keep 3 days of key supplies, including bottled water, non-perishable food, and a battery or wind-up FM radio.