US, Iran Dig In and Ramp Up Threats as War Rages Without a Clear End Point

The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran is entering its 12th day this morning, and the conflict is expanding across the Middle East with new attacks, rising casualties, and growing fears about global energy supplies.

At the Pentagon, War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the next phase of the campaign could bring the most intense strikes yet inside Iran. Hegseth said, “Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran — the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever.” U.S. forces say they’ve already struck more than 5,000 targets since the war began February 28th as part of the joint U.S.-Israeli operation aimed at crippling Iran’s missile systems, military leadership, and nuclear program.

The Pentagon also confirmed the toll on American forces. Around 140 U.S. service members have been wounded since the conflict began. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, “The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty.” Eight troops remain severely injured and seven American service members have been killed in Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. believes the campaign is already achieving its main objectives. The president said the initial wave of strikes dramatically weakened Iran’s ability to retaliate. “The big risk in that war has been over for three days,” Trump said. “We wiped them out in the first two days. We’re achieving major strides toward completing our military objective.” Trump says the war will end once Iran no longer has the ability to develop weapons that could threaten the United States, Israel, or American allies.

But overnight, the conflict escalated again as Iran and the terror group Hezbollah launched coordinated missile and drone attacks against Israel. Israeli officials say Iran has begun using cluster munitions, which burst open midair and scatter dozens of smaller explosives across wide areas. Israeli security analyst Kobi Michael said the attacks appear closely coordinated. “Hezbollah has fully joined the war,” he said. “Most of Hezbollah’s rockets and drones are launched simultaneously with the Iranian missiles.” Sirens sounded across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as Israeli air defenses intercepted incoming barrages.

Another major front in the war is the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping channel that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Iran has threatened to choke off oil exports from the region, sending shockwaves through global markets.

President Trump says the United States is already taking action to keep the waterway open. In a message posted Tuesday, Trump said, “I am pleased to report that within the last few hours we have hit and completely destroyed 10 inactive mine-laying boats and ships, with more to follow.” U.S. officials later said as many as 16 Iranian vessels capable of laying naval mines have been destroyed.

Trump also issued a direct warning to Tehran: “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far.”

The stakes are enormous for the global economy. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it intends to block exports from the region, declaring, “We will not allow one liter of oil to be exported from the region.” Tanker traffic through the strait has already slowed dramatically, sending oil prices surging and forcing some producers to reroute shipments.

Inside Iran, residents in Tehran report some of the heaviest bombing of the war, with neighborhoods losing electricity and thousands of civilians fleeing into the countryside. Despite the mounting damage, Iran’s leadership remains defiant. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared, “We are definitely not looking for a ceasefire. The aggressor must be punched in the mouth so that he learns a lesson.”

For now, the war continues to widen — with new strikes, new fronts, and rising pressure on the global economy — as the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran moves deeper into its second week with no clear end in sight.