Where things stand 1 month into the war with Iran
abcnews.com • • world
Key Points:
- On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, targeting Iranian military and government sites, with President Trump initially stating the conflict could last as little as four weeks.
- The war has resulted in thousands of deaths, including over 1,440 Iranian civilians and 13 American servicemembers, with Iran retaliating through missile and drone attacks on Israel, U.S. bases, and Gulf nations.
- Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil shipping and causing energy prices to surge, while Trump has threatened further attacks if the strait is not reopened by April 6.
- U.S. goals have expanded from regime change to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with ongoing but unconfirmed negotiations and a proposed 15-point peace framework.
- The Pentagon is preparing to deploy up to 5,000 additional troops to the Middle East amid requests for $200 billion in supplemental war funding, though some lawmakers remain skeptical; Trump and officials suggest the operation could conclude in weeks rather than months.
