The United States launched its 11th consecutive night of attacks on Iran on Wednesday, extending a conflict that has killed American troops and disrupted global shipping. US Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage, and logistics infrastructure.
Iran responded by sending drones toward US military facilities in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Tehran claimed it struck ammunition depots and military equipment at bases in those countries.
The US Department of Defense reported that a third American soldier likely died after an Iranian strike on July 17, raising the total number of US troops killed since the war began on June 28 to 18.
The fighting has severely affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, only three cargo vessels passed through the waterway, with no very large crude carriers or LNG tankers recorded. Two tankers carrying Saudi crude turned back in the Red Sea after Yemen's Houthis threatened to blockade Saudi shipping.
The Trump administration is asking Congress for an additional $70 billion in military funding, seeking a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for 2027. Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand accused the administration of demanding "unlimited money for bombs" while neglecting other needs.
War costs have already exceeded $100 billion for US taxpayers, according to the Iran War Cost Tracker. American households have paid over $72 billion in extra fuel costs, about $544 per household, based on estimates from Brown University.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains open to negotiations, despite a June 17 memorandum of understanding that called for an end to military operations. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are pushing for de-escalation.