WASHINGTON, D.C. – The US war against Iran could be expanding as the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group in Yemen, said they would impose a blockade on Saudi ships in the Strait of Hormuz. It could put additional pressure on energy prices globally. This follows the deaths of at least three American servicemembers in a wave of new attacks.
Over the weekend US Central Command (CENTCOM) said two service members died and one is missing in Jordan following an Iranian attack on Friday. Separately, they announced another US service member in northern Iraq was killed in action on Saturday during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone.
“We’re praying for their families and praying for their souls, and we are grateful that we have people like that serving us, both those who we have lost and those who at this very moment are on the watch and defending our interests around the world,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday.
17 US service members have now died in total since the fighting began earlier this year.
“Well we feel very badly, but you know those great people, those great patriots who are out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” said President Donald Trump on Sunday.
On Monday the US conducted a new round of airstrikes against Iran. The fighting has intensified and the interim deal between the US and Iran has collapsed.
The escalation of attacks has pushed oil prices. Brent Crude sits at 88 dollars a barrel on Monday. The national average of gasoline has bumped up to four dollars a gallon according to AAA.
Last week Senate Democrats blocked the $1.15- trillion annual defense policy bill (National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA). Democrats are growing more frustrated over the escalation of the attacks and the President’s failure to ask Congress to authorize the war, which was a big reason for their opposition towards the NDAA.
The House is expected to take up another vote on the defense policy bill after an unsuccessful first round last month where there was pressure to attach the President’s SAVE America Act, an elections related bill, to the defense policy bill.
