Trump Weighs Escalation of Iran War Amid Rising U.S. Casualties

President Donald Trump convened senior advisers and cabinet members to decide whether to intensify the U.S. military campaign against Iran. He added that Israel would likely face “consequences” from Iran, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to meet Trump in Washington.

New York Times

The escalation follows the collapse of a fragile cease-fire that had been supported by a memorandum of understanding aimed at reviving a long-term denuclearization deal. The truce fell apart after Iran used a drone to strike a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz late last month, prompting reciprocal U.S. strikes and a renewed blockade of the strait. Iranian attacks in the ensuing weeks have hit U.S. interests across the Middle East, including a base in Jordan that killed four service members.

New York Times

• Reported U.S. fatalities range from 14 to 18 service members killed since the war began on Feb. 28.

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• Approximately 100 troops have been injured since early July, with about 50 wounded in recent attacks on Jordanian bases.

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• Severely wounded personnel have been medevaced to a U.S. hospital in Germany.

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• The Pentagon estimates roughly 550 U.S. service members have been wounded overall.

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• Iranian civilian deaths are reported at about 1,700 by the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

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The discrepancy between the 14-person and 18-person death counts stems from the administration’s removal of four service members killed after a declared cease-fire in April, a change the acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez attributed to “temporary data disruptions” on the casualties website.

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The Defense Department declined to comment on the wounded troops transferred to Germany, citing operational security. Central Command said recent airstrikes were retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial shipping, without acknowledging strikes on regional bases.

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• “All of them said very strongly, ‘We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,’” — Mr. Trump, president — Donald Trump, president

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