First Thing: Trump urged to end Iran escalation as US deaths and injuries rise

Democrats are urging President Trump to end the renewed conflict with Iran following the deaths of three U.S. troops in Iranian strikes. Senator Chris Murphy accused the president of losing control of the war, which has escalated after Trump withdrew from a prior agreement. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, while a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile. Since February 28th, at least 17 U.S. service members have been killed, with nearly 100 injured in the past two weeks. The article also briefly mentions other news items, including a potential candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine, South Carolina Senator Darline Graham's intention to run for a full term, concerns about AI chatbots providing unreliable election guidance, and a United Airlines employee's threat to call ICE.

A US service member was killed on Saturday in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone. This incident brings the total number of US military personnel killed since the war began on February 28 to 17, with at least 420 wounded and one missing. Hostilities resumed on July 7 after a period of ceasefire negotiations following initial US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian retaliation. Recent exchanges include Iranian ballistic missile strikes on US transport planes in Jordan, where two US service members died and a third is missing. President Trump has expressed sadness and vowed to retaliate against Iran to honor the fallen soldiers. Public opinion polls indicate that a majority of Americans question the war's cost.

The US military has launched a new series of strikes against Iran, marking the tenth consecutive night of attacks. These strikes are intended to degrade Iran's ability to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump stated these actions were in retaliation for the deaths of three US soldiers, vowing Iran would "pay many times over." Iran claims to have targeted sites in Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria, with President Masoud Pezeshkian describing the situation as a "full-scale war." Despite ongoing exchanges, diplomatic messages are reportedly still being sent through intermediaries. Jordan reported shooting down three Iranian missiles, while Kuwait intercepted Iranian drones, and Bahrain stated Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems.

The United States conducted air strikes against Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities on Saturday night, targeting capabilities of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). These strikes, the eighth consecutive night of US action, were in retaliation for an IRGC attack that killed two US troops in Jordan. In response, Iran's army stated it launched drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait. The US aims to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punish forces responsible for the Jordan attack. Both nations have escalated attacks in recent days, with accusations of striking critical infrastructure.

The US military launched strikes on Iran for the eighth consecutive night, targeting areas in Hormozgan province, including Sirik and Qeshm Island. US Central Command stated these strikes were in retaliation for an Iranian attack in Jordan that killed two American service members and were designed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's semi-official news agencies reported the strikes, noting no casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. In response, Iran's army reportedly targeted two US military bases in Kuwait, hitting an ammunition depot and radar systems. These actions follow weeks of escalating conflict, with both sides reporting casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The United States and Iran have escalated their conflict, with a fragile ceasefire unraveling and leading to tit-for-tat attacks. The IRGC struck commercial vessels off Oman, prompting US retaliatory strikes on Iranian military targets. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks, and subsequently shut down the Strait of Hormuz, leading to further US strikes concentrated around the waterway. Analysts suggest the conflict is evolving into sustained, but limited, combat, unlike the broader air campaigns seen in March. Both sides are reportedly still open to talks, with Qatar and Pakistan mediating. This latest escalation has caused oil prices to spike and markets to plunge.

The US military has launched new attacks against Iran amid an escalating standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran condemned these strikes, stating they have "rendered futile" diplomatic efforts and caused insecurity in the strait, disrupting international shipping. Iran claims passage through the waterway is not possible due to US military movements, while the US asserts its forces are safeguarding freedom of navigation and that an alternative southern route remains available. The article also notes the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and actor Sam Neill.

The US military has conducted strikes on Iran for the seventh consecutive night, stating the actions are intended to degrade Iranian military capabilities. These strikes follow President Trump's declaration that a temporary ceasefire agreement is "over." Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported explosions near the Strait of Hormuz, claiming two oil tankers exploded in a mined shipping channel, a claim dismissed as false by the US military's Central Command (Centcom). Iranian media also reported explosions in Yazd, Qeshm island, and Bandar Abbas. Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a significant portion of global oil and LNG supplies, has largely halted due to these ongoing retaliatory strikes. Earlier, Iran claimed to have attacked US military facilities in several Gulf countries, which the US denied.

President Donald Trump has reversed his earlier proposal to impose a 20 percent transit fee on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This shift comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Instead of the fee, Trump stated that regional countries will make "massive" trade and investment deals with the United States in return for transit protection. He announced this change following "highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership." The article notes that several Gulf countries had already pledged multibillion-dollar investments in the US prior to the recent conflict with Iran. Trump's administration had previously opposed Iran charging fees for passage through the international waterway, citing concerns about international law.

President Trump has rescinded his threat to impose a 20% fee on cargo ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he announced that Gulf States will pursue trade and investment deals with the United States. This decision comes as the U.S. prepares to reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian ports, which Centcom stated would be in effect from Tuesday. Trump indicated the Strait remains open to all traffic except Iran, asserting that oil is flowing freely due to U.S. military power. He explained his change of plan was influenced by calls from Gulf leaders, who expressed concerns about the fairness of the U.S. protecting the waterway for global use. Shipping data indicates a recent slowdown in Strait traffic and a rise in Brent Crude oil prices.

Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan, have activated air defense systems following renewed Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting U.S. military installations. These attacks, which Iran claims hit specific facilities, occur amidst a fragile memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. aimed at halting a conflict that began in February. The renewed escalation, partly focused on the Strait of Hormuz, highlights a security dilemma for Gulf states: their U.S. military presence makes them targets, yet U.S. protection is crucial against Iranian threats. Gulf nations have invested heavily in layered air defense networks, but the sustained pressure from Iran's cheaper drones raises questions about their ability to withstand prolonged confrontations.

Pakistan has urged restraint from all parties involved in the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, stating that renewed conflict is "in no one's interest." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for both sides to honor commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), brokered by Pakistan in April, which it described as a foundation for regional understanding. This appeal follows a new wave of strikes and counterstrikes after a fragile ceasefire collapsed. The US conducted a second night of attacks targeting Iranian sites, prompting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to respond with drone and missile attacks on US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, and drones towards Qatar. These exchanges followed Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, leading the US to reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, targeting approximately 90 military sites and port facilities, in retaliation for Iran's recent attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. U.S. President Donald Trump stated these strikes were to degrade Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation and warned of further escalation if shipping attacks continue. Iranian state media reported explosions in various locations, including near the Bushehr nuclear power plant and port cities. Trump declared the interim ceasefire agreement "over" but allowed negotiations to continue, while Iran's deputy foreign minister viewed his remarks as an admission of policy failure. These escalating actions have raised fears of a renewed conflict and caused oil prices to surge.

The US launched airstrikes against Iran, killing at least 14 people, in retaliation for Iran's attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by striking Gulf countries, marking the most intense exchange of fire since a ceasefire extension. These tit-for-tat strikes occurred after President Trump declared a memorandum of understanding aimed at extending the ceasefire "over." The US stated its strikes targeted approximately 90 sites to degrade Iran's capacity to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran accused the US of war crimes, citing attacks on bridges and infrastructure. The escalating conflict has raised concerns about the breakdown of the ceasefire and the prospects for ongoing negotiations between the two nations.

President Trump expressed frustration with Iranian negotiators, accusing them of dishonesty and cheating, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has emerged as a dominant force in Tehran. Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, authority in Iran has become dispersed, with the IRGC holding significant power, making it unclear if negotiators can commit to an agreement. Experts suggest Iran's leadership believes escalation is essential for survival, using regional instability to gain leverage and distract from domestic issues. This fractured power structure in Tehran raises concerns for Washington, as different factions may have conflicting interpretations and willingness to implement any deal.

A tanker caught fire after being struck by an "unknown projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz, with reports from US officials suggesting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired missiles at commercial ships. These attacks occurred during ongoing peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, where the Strait of Hormuz is a contentious issue due to Iran's restrictions on shipping. While marine traffic has shown resilience, vague provisions regarding the strait remain a sticking point in the talks. The incidents also follow funeral processions for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes. The exact cause of the tanker incident is unclear, with one analyst suggesting it may have strayed into an area of Iranian mine-clearing operations.