Iran War

The Fighting in the Middle East Shows No Sign of Letting Up

What’s going on: Iranian state media said Tehran launched its “most intense operation since the beginning of the war” yesterday. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued their coordinated attacks across Iran and the Middle East. As the fighting enters its 13th day, this is the latest:

The death toll: In total, seven American service members have been killed in the region, and at least 140 others are injured. Iran’s UN ambassador says more than 1,300 civilians have died, accusing the US of targeting civilian infrastructure. A preliminary inquiry found that the US is responsible for a strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed approximately 175 people, primarily children, despite President Donald Trump saying Iran is at fault. As for Lebanon, the country’s health ministry says Israeli fire has killed more than 600 people. Iranian attacks have also killed dozens of others across the Gulf states and Israel.

Oil supplies: The International Energy Agency (IEA) said 32 countries, including the US, agreed to release a record 400 million barrels to stabilize prices — about a third of the group’s emergency reserves. Still, the price per barrel jumped again after the announcement. According to ABC News, Iran targeted at least two cargo ships and allegedly placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz to further disrupt the popular shipping route and raise the economic cost of the war. Trump said the US took most of the explosives out.

When could it end? That’s the million-dollar question — give or take $11.3 billion, which is what the first week of the war cost taxpayers — and no one has an answer. Trump told Axios yesterday the war with Iran will end “soon” and there is “practically nothing left to target.” However, the president has given varied timelines since the beginning of the conflict, and Iran hasn’t signaled it’s ready to come to the table.

Related: Iran Said It Won’t Compete in the US-Hosted World Cup (ESPN)