President Donald Trump is describing the US assault on Iran as an "excursion" to reassure voters and markets of its brevity, despite conflicting statements about its duration and objectives.Military planners had warned a protracted campaign would be costly, but their advice was reportedly not fully heeded as the Pentagon's spending in the first six days exceeded $11.3 billion, with experts indicating this figure understates the total cost due to uncounted expenses like munitions replenishment.Concerns are rising over Iran's unexpected resistance, including Hezbollah's counterattacks, complicating the administration's ability to claim success and leading to skepticism from lawmakers regarding open-ended funding for the operation.The
White House privately urged
Israel to halt attacks on
Iran's energy facilities due to fears of broader retaliation and global market disruption, even as Tehran threatens maritime traffic in the
Strait of Hormuz and the US faces potential need for supplemental defense appropriations.