Iran war has cost $25 billion so far, Pentagon official says
Acting comptroller Jules Hurst III, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, said that the bulk of the figure has been devoted to ordnance.
Mideast Africa
Three’s company: Trio of US carriers operating in Middle East for first time in decades
Three U.S. aircraft carriers are operating in Central Command's area of responsibility for the first time since 2003.
Opinion
Trump’s madman diplomacy isn’t working on Iran
Compounding the problem is Trump’s misapplication of the madman theory itself, argues CATO Institute analyst Benjamin Giltner.
US Navy destroyer fires on cargo vessel attempting to sail to Iranian port
The USS Spruance "disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room," CENTCOM stated.
Vessels report being hit by gunfire as Iran says Strait of Hormuz shut again
Merchant vessels attempting to cross the strait on Saturday received radio messages from Iran’s navy telling them they were not allowed to pass.
How the US military could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz
An arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters can help reduce risk, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
Senate Republicans back Trump military sales to Israel
The Senate on Wednesday blocked two resolutions that would have stopped the sale of some $450 million in bombs and bulldozers to Israel.
White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge
"I don't have a ballpark," White House budget director Russell Vought told lawmakers Wednesday about the cost of the Iran war.
Amid focus on Strait of Hormuz, experts sound warning on Yemen’s Houthis and Red Sea
Foreign policy experts warn that the strait is not the only potential choke point that Iran and its proxies could leverage amid the war.
Italy suspends defense agreement with Israel
The announcement marks a change for Italy, which has been a loyal ally to Israel for years and has been viewed by Trump as a trusted partner in Europe.
Lebanon and Israel talks set to begin in Washington
The talks mark a rare diplomatic engagement between two parties technically at war since 1948.
US blockade of Iran will be major military endeavor, experts say
The U.S. military has not offered basic details yet about the blockade, including how many U.S. warships will enforce it.
US Navy to blockade Strait of Hormuz ‘effective immediately,’ Trump says
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” the president wrote on Sunday.
US-Iran peace talks end without deal as delegations leave Pakistan
Each side blamed the other for the failure of the 21-hour negotiations to end fighting that has killed thousands and roiled the global economy.
The president who threatened to end a civilization is supposed to guarantee Ukraine’s survival
Trump's Iran war has diverted diplomats and drained interceptor stockpiles — just as his envoys were supposed to deliver security guarantees to Kyiv.
UK’s Starmer and Trump discussed military options for Strait of Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron also has raised the possibility of Europeans securing the crucial waterway, but only after the war ends.
As US claims victory, Iran emerges bruised but with leverage over Hormuz
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire locks in a harsh reality: an entrenched, radical government with control over the Strait of Hormuz.
