WATCH: Hegseth accuses US senator of having 'Trump derangement syndrome'
Rachel Dobkin22 July 2026 06:00
Hegseth's new estimate for the cost of the war: Nearly $38 billion
Pete Hegseth’s latest estimate for the growing costs of the Iran war has now reached $37.5 billion.
That’s likely a low-end estimate, according to analysts.
Before the last week of attacks, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimated total costs to have reached between $34 billion and $42 billion. Other estimates place the true cost of the war at more than $100 billion.
Shweta Sharma22 July 2026 05:58
Trump warns Iran the US ‘has been nice’ so far in attacks as threat of full-blown war grows
Speaking in the Oval Office Tuesday alongside Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, Trump said Iran was once again being “decimated” and disclaimed any interest in new ceasefire negotiations after a wave of attacks on US bases and allies.
But he cautioned the US could escalate attacks on Iran in ways that would leave the country’s infrastructure so devastated it could take “decades” for Tehran to rebuild as the renewed conflict heads into a third full week.
“They want to desperately meet, and until they're ready to meet in a meaningful way, we have no interest”, the US president said.
“If we left today, it would take them decades to rebuild, and I don't believe they'd ever rebuild. And honestly, they haven't seen anything yet — we've been nice”.
President Donald Trump snapped at female reporter yet again when pressed on whether he has a plan for the escalating war
Andrew Feinberg22 July 2026 05:32
Iran claims strikes in Kuwait and Amazon data centre in Bahrain
Iran’s military claims it struck US military targets at Camp Doha in western Kuwait and Amazon’s central data infrastructure in Bahrain in Tuesday’s attacks.
In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Iranian military said its forces destroyed “a US long-range radar site, a communications center, satellite receiving systems, a missile defense radar, and a MQ-9 drone hangar”.
Satellite image shows smoke rising from Subiya Power and Water Desalination Plant (Reuters)
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran – with sacred unity – stand ready to decisively counter any new conspiracy and adventurism by the enemy,” the statement added, calling Camp Doha a major support hub for US personnel and equipment in the region.
“An MQ-9 drone hangar was also hit at the Ali al-Salem base, and a number of drones were destroyed or completely damaged,” it added.
It also said that it destroyed the central data infrastructure of the American company Amazon in Bahrain with several cruise missiles.
It said the attack was in response to the US’s alleged attack on the "civilian facilities of Darkhovey" – an under-construction nuclear power plant in Iran.
Shweta Sharma22 July 2026 05:20
WATCH: Hegseth says 'inability' to fund Pentagon is 'single greatest threat' to US
Rachel Dobkin22 July 2026 05:04
US military says 11th successive night of strikes on Iran has ended
The US military says it has concluded its latest round of strikes on Iran, marking the 11th consecutive night of American attacks.
Centcom said the 75-minute operation targeted Iranian military operations centres, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities and logistics infrastructure to further degrade Tehran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington said Iran had attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway over the past three months.
Shweta Sharma22 July 2026 04:47
MAGA congressman shrugs off Americans killed in Iran as the ‘nature of warfare’
Rep. Carlos Giménez, who sits on the House’s Armed Services Committee, made the remark while discussing the escalating conflict with CNN Monday.
“You know my condolences go out to the families of our servicemen and women that are killed – have been killed – in Iran. That’s the nature of warfare; we will have some casualties,” Giménez told “The Lead”.
Three American service members were killed in the Middle East over the weekend as the US and Iran continue to exchange strikes
Ariana Baio22 July 2026 04:29
US military shares promo-style video of blockade as 8 ships redirected and 1 disabled
US Central Command has shared a promo-style video of American troops enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports as eight ships have been redirected and one disabled as of Tuesday.
Rachel Dobkin22 July 2026 04:02
Rubio says US open-minded on Middle East, but Iran not serious about talks
US state secretary Marco Rubio said on Wednesday the United States is open-minded on the Middle East conflict and willing to engage, negotiate and settle differences with Iran, but Tehran was not serious about talks.
"If they're serious, we're serious. If they're not, then we will do what's necessary to protect our interests, and also the interests of our allies," Rubio said in remarks in a meeting with Southeast Asian counterparts in Manila, who have expressed serious concern about the renewed hostilities.
Shweta Sharma22 July 2026 04:01
Three tankers carrying Saudi crude make U-turns in Red Sea
Three oil tankers loaded with Saudi crude for China and India made U-turns in the Red Sea following a warning from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia.
The three tankers – Xin Long Yang, the Rodos and the Amazon – made turns towards the Suez Canal to skil the Yemeni coast andswitched off their transponders on Tuesday.
The Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front in the US-Israeli war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf.
The group, in an email sent to shipping companies, warned them not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports and said such activity may result in being targeted "in any location".
"Vessels calling at Saudi Arabian ports are advised to reconsider transiting the Red Sea and to consider implementing enhanced mitigation measures," British maritime security company Ambrey said, adding that it assessed vessels calling at Saudi Arabian ports "were at high risk".
Shweta Sharma22 July 2026 03:59