Get you up to speed: U.S. launches defensive strikes at Iranian targets near Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military conducted limited defensive strikes against Iranian targets on Qeshm Island following an incident where Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at an American aircraft. Three U.S. officials confirmed the strikes, which occurred near the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz have increased the operational costs of the Iran war to at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October, with $29 billion attributed to replacing used munitions. Reports indicate that the financial implications do not account for the damage inflicted on U.S. military bases in the region, many of which have been targets of Iranian attacks.
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post, indicated that a deal with Iran “could happen” and noted that “Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, as the U.S. military’s costs from the ongoing conflict rise to at least $47.1 billion, lawmakers have been updated on significant expenses related to munitions and equipment replacement.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how the U.S. military plans to address the damage to its bases in the Middle East.
U.S. military conducts defensive strikes on Iranian targets near Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military has launched limited defensive strikes at Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, three U.S. officials confirmed to WTX US News.
A senior U.S. official said the strikes targeted Iran’s Qeshm Island after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at an American aircraft.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the strikes on Monday.
The strikes came on the eve of Election Day, as President Trump floats restarting hostilities with Iran after the midterms and as the U.S. and Qatari mediators broker talks on a U.S.-Iran deal.
As the war enters its ninth month, Mr. Trump’s rhetoric has continued to swing back and forth between striking a deal and launching sustained strikes against Iran again.
In a Truth Social post earlier Monday, the president said a deal “could happen” and that “Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible.” Later that night, in an appearance on Fox News, Mr. Trump said “we still have to take care of” several sites in Iran, including Pickaxe Mountain, which houses a suspected nuclear site. During his appearance on Sean Hannity’s program, Mr. Trump said it was “not a big deal” and could be done in “an hour.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a weekend call with Mr. Trump, pushed for further sustained strikes against Iran, according to The Associated Press. Mr. Trump acknowledged the call had taken place, saying he had a “very good talk with him,” but did not elaborate on what he and Netanyahu discussed.
The war has loomed large over both the U.S. midterm and Israeli parliamentary elections. In the U.S., rising costs stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to cratering support for Mr. Trump and the Republican Party.
In Israel, Netanyahu’s party lost its majority in the first parliamentary elections since Oct. 7, 2023.
As of mid-October, the Iran war had cost the U.S. military at least $47.1 billion, according to a new estimate from U.S. Central Command obtained by WTX US News.
CENTCOM said the cost of replacing spent munitions alone was about $29 billion, according to the latest estimate, which was provided to lawmakers. Another $6.1 billion was needed to replace lost equipment, and there has been around $11.9 billion spent on incremental costs like support for American service members.
The estimate does not include the cost of damage to U.S. military bases in the Middle East, many of which have been targeted by Iranian drones and missiles.