Iran-Israel Latest: Iran conflict spreads to Lebanon; Kuwait downs 3 US F-15s by mistake—Trump eyes weeks of strikes, oil surges, 25% US support.
Kuwait F-15 Shootdown Kills No Crew but Warns Risks – General Caine Says Gritty Work Ahead Russia China Turkey Slam US Israel Blitz (Image: X)
Iran-Israel Latest: The U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran exploded outward Monday, pulling in Lebanon as Israel struck back at Hezbollah while Iran hammered Gulf states with missiles and drones. President Donald Trump warned the operation could stretch weeks, noting chaos in Tehran after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death left leadership murky. Kuwait's forces mistakenly shot down three American F-15E jets in the fog of an Iranian attack, but all six crew ejected safely amid spiraling risks.
U.S. Central Command confirmed Kuwait downed the F-15s during Iran's assault, with video showing one jet spiraling down, engine ablaze. Reuters verified the footage from the scene. All pilots parachuted out and got recovered without deaths, but the blunder underscores hair-trigger dangers. Trump mourned four U.S. service members already lost in the campaign, his boldest foreign policy bet in decades. Hezbollah and Tehran kept up barrages, drawing Israeli retaliation into Lebanon. Gulf Arabs talk tough but hold back—no allies beyond Israel join the strikes.
Trump laid out the stakes in his longest comments yet from the White House. He ordered strikes to crush Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, projecting four to five weeks but ready for longer. "We have capability to go far longer," he stressed, urging Iranians to topple their regime amid post-Khamenei confusion. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine briefed it's no quick hit: more troops deploy for "difficult and gritty work" to hit military goals. Pentagon tallied over 1,250 Iranian targets struck and 11 warships sunk. Trump called it ahead of schedule despite polls showing just one in four Americans onboard.
The war trashed global flights, halted Hormuz shipping—20% of world oil—and spiked Brent crude to $77.74, U.S. crude to $71.23. Retail gas topped $3 per gallon, pinching voters already grumpy on costs ahead of midterms. Reuters/Ipsos found scant public backing, posing Republican risks. Russia, China, and Turkey's Erdogan blasted the raids as illegal; Iran denies nukes, claims talks when hit. Gulf states eye retaliation rights but stay sidelined. No long-term U.S. plans leak to Western diplomats.
A: Three F-15Es; all six crew safely recovered.
A: Four to five weeks initially, but extendable.
A: Four service personnel killed in operations.
A: Over 1,250 sites; 11 Iranian warships.
A: One in four per Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
