As attacks across the Middle East continue for the second week, the Trump administration has sent conflicting messages about how long the war will last, while Iran has signaled it is prepared for a long war.
The humanitarian toll is mounting, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and more than 1,700 killed across the region. The war has also caused fluctuations in oil prices in the biggest industrial disruption in history, raising concerns within the Trump administration.
Here’s what you need to know on day 11.
What are the main headings?
Trump administration comments: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States will not relent until “the enemy is completely and decisively defeated,” but added that President Donald Trump can “control the throttle” of the war and decide when the U.S. offensive ends.
Oil turmoil: War remains volatile after oil prices fall on Tuesday after Trump says war will end ‘soon’. An estimated 20% of the world’s oil supply is currently disrupted, and countries are bracing for the impact.
Strait of Hormuz: Iran has begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil shipping chokepoint, which transports about a fifth of all crude oil, according to two people familiar with U.S. intelligence reports on the matter. Still, President Trump has sought to reassure tanker operators who refuse to pass through the strait. The US military said it was “considering a range of options” to escort ships through the vital waterway, which has been effectively closed since the war began. The United States has warned that if Iran tries to block the flow of oil, it will suffer a bigger blow. Iran responded that its military was “waiting” for U.S. naval vessels in the strait, and Iranian naval commanders warned ships attempting to pass: “If you have any doubts, come closer and try them out.”
Iran women’s soccer team: A sixth player and staff member from the team applied for asylum in Australia on Tuesday, sources told CNN Sports, while five other players were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government in response to earlier asylum requests. The remaining team members are believed to have left for Iran.
Israel attacks on Iran: CNN reporters in Tehran felt heavy airstrikes throughout the night, shaking building walls. One city resident said it was “impossible to even try to sleep” amid waves of heavy Israeli bombing. Historic buildings were damaged in Isfahan. According to the Israeli military, Iran retaliated with attacks against Israel.
Israel’s attack on Lebanon: Israel has carried out “targeted” ground raids into southern Lebanon and is considering moving deeper into the region and expanding its military presence there.
Gulf States: On Tuesday, neighboring countries reported new attacks by drones and missiles. In the United Arab Emirates, a strike caused a fire at one of the region’s largest refineries. A drone targeting a U.S. military base and the UAE consulate’s airport in Iraqi Kurdistan was shot down, causing “property damage” from debris. A pro-Iranian Iraqi militia claimed responsibility for the attack. Iran’s president last week claimed that Iran would stop attacking its neighbors as long as attacks on Iran no longer originate from these countries.
Iran vows escalation: Iranian intelligence officials have arrested 30 people, including foreigners, on charges of espionage and collaborating with foreign enemies, state news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday. Separately, a senior Iranian government official ruled out the possibility of diplomacy, saying in a CNN interview that Iran would continue its attacks on Gulf states and that the war would only end in economic pain.
Rising death toll: Iran accuses the United States and Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, with airstrikes killing more than 1,300 people since the start of the conflict, according to Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeed Iravani. At least 570 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched attacks on the country last week, the country’s Disaster Risk Management Authority said on Tuesday. Dozens more people have been killed in other countries in the region, including seven U.S. military personnel. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that about 140 U.S. troops were injured.
