As US-Israel war in Iran enters fourth week, costs of conflict come into focus, experts say
news.northeastern.edu

... The U.S. and Israel are deploying costly sophisticated weaponry against the less expensive but cost-effective arms used by Iran, a fact that has brought the evolving dynamics of modern warfare into sharper focus. ...

As the war in Iran drags into its fourth week, the direct and indirect costs of the conflict are beginning to mount, highlighting a longstanding challenge of replenishing weaponry and other military assets while waging what some describe as "asymmetric" warfare in a far-flung part of the world.

The U.S. and Israel are deploying costly sophisticated weaponry against the less expensive but highly cost-effective arms being used by Iran, a fact that has brought the evolving dynamics of modern warfare into sharper focus.

"There is a disconnect," said Denise Garcia, professor of political science and international affairs at Northeastern. "The U.S. and other major powers built massive aircraft carriers, fighter jets and costly missiles, yet it is the cheaper drones that are causing terror -- an example of asymmetric warfare at its best." ...

Twelve US troops wounded in Iran strike on base in Saudi Arabia, US official says
www.reuters.com

... Twelve U.S. troops were wounded, two of them seriously, in an Iranian military strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, a U.S. official told Reuters on Friday.

The latest casualties add to the more than 300 U.S. military service members who have been wounded since the war against Iran started on February 28. Earlier on Friday, the U.S. military said 273 of them had already returned to duty. Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed in the conflict. ...

Trump told MAGA supporters that we won' in Iran. They were silent (March 13, 2026)
rollcall.com

... The silence from the Kentucky crowd, many wearing "Make America Great Again" gear, was deafening.

The friendly audience in the commonwealth's 4th District already had booed loudly at President Donald Trump's mention of "Barack Hussein Obama," with emphasis on the 44th president's middle name. It would later howl as the showman in chief verbally eviscerated Rep. Thomas Massie, the area's Republican congressman who has dared to defy him, including on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files.

But when the unexpected wartime commander in chief declared that "we've won" his surprise war with Iran that he announced in the middle of the night on Feb. 28, no one cheered. In fact, there were no sounds at all inside the Verst Logistics Order Fulfillment Center in Hebron.

There wasn't even tepid applause.

The crowd had been in a cheering mood just seconds earlier, first when the MAGA movement's founder touted a $1.5 billion uranium enrichment facility four-hours-and-change south in Paducah, Ky., nor when he, in true showman mode, dropped the official name of the Iran mission, saying "Operation Epic Fury" dramatically and with a raised voice.

But he then conjured George W. Bush's Navy ship deck "Mission Accomplished" moment just 12 days into the Iran war -- and with the Islamic Republic government still intact. "Is that a great name? Well, it's only good if you win. You know, you can only do, and we've won. Let me tell you, we've won," he said. "You know, you never like to say too early you won. We won. We won the, in the first hour, it was over. We won."

But no matter how many times Trump made the questionable claim, there was only silence. ...