Iran launched new drone strikes Friday against U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. Explosions were also heard near a military base hosting U.S. forces in northern Iraq, and video showed drone interceptions in progress.
The attacks came hours after the U.S. military said it had completed a 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. Those strikes are aimed at halting attacks on ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, which the Trump administration says is open despite few ships risking passage.
According to CBS News, the pace at which the U.S. is burning through some of its most advanced missile interceptors and other weapons has become a point of tension inside the Trump administration. U.S. military and intelligence officials told the outlet the current rate of use is unsustainable.
The Iranian health ministry said Friday that U.S. strikes between June 27 and July 24 killed 59 people and wounded 666. Spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour wrote on X that six of the 59 killed were women and three were minors. In total, Iranian officials have reported over 3,500 fatalities from U.S. and Israeli attacks during the 21-week war, which began when the U.S. and Israel launched a joint campaign against Iran on Feb. 28.
The Pentagon's own casualty figures became a source of confusion this week. An official Department of Defense website showed 14 troops killed and 420 wounded as of Friday, but earlier this week the Pentagon had updated the count to 18 killed and 482 wounded. The New York Times first reported the discrepancy, citing four military officials who gave conflicting explanations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell blamed a technical problem, saying the figures were wrong because of a "temporary data disruption." Eighteen U.S. service members have been killed in the region since the war began. Seventeen died serving in Operation Epic Fury, the campaign against Iran. One soldier was killed during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq under Operation Inherent Resolve, the ongoing campaign against ISIS.
The war is also hitting global energy markets. According to NPR, Brent crude oil surged more than 6% to $100 a barrel, its highest level since May. The spike followed Houthi attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Houthis said they entered the conflict to retaliate against Saudi Arabia for its siege on Yemen. The rebel group also threatened to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another key chokepoint for oil transport. Higher oil prices are expected to raise costs for school supplies, fresh food, and shipping. UPS has already added fuel surcharges.
On the home front, the House voted Thursday to approve a non-binding resolution calling for the removal of U.S. forces from the war. It was the second such rebuke passed by the House since the conflict began. Shortly after, Senate Democrats attempted to advance their own war powers resolution, but it failed 47 to 49.
The Trump administration also announced overnight that it is imposing new tariffs on 59 countries and the European Union. The tariffs come in two tiers, at 10% and 12.5%, and went into effect at midnight. The administration said the tariffs target countries importing goods made with forced labor. They cover more than 99% of U.S. imports, though energy and many foods are exempt.
