Midwest US pays high cost for Trump’s Iran war as soldiers die, while veterans are baffled: ‘Why are we there?’

Key Points:

• Capt Curtis Angst, a 30-year-old air refueling pilot from Ohio, was among six aircrew killed in a mid-air collision over western Iraq, becoming one of the first US casualties in the 2026 war on Iran.
• The war on Iran, initiated without congressional approval and clear objectives, has sparked confusion and criticism among veterans and local communities, especially in Ohio, Iowa, and Kentucky, which have disproportionately lost nearly half of the 13 US service members killed so far.
• Public opposition to the conflict is growing, with millions protesting nationwide and some Ohio Republicans breaking ranks by supporting measures to end US attacks on Iran, reflecting widespread doubts about the war's justification and strategy.
• The conflict has led to significant casualties and geopolitical consequences, including over 3,500 Iranian deaths, rising global oil prices, and regional instability, while domestic political shifts in key states like Iowa signal potential challenges for the Trump administration.
• Local veterans and officials question the lack of clear military objectives and adequate support for deployed forces, fearing the conflict may escalate without a defined exit strategy, as exemplified by the tragic loss of Capt Angst, who was married just 17 months before his death.