President Donald Trump has characterized the recent military action against Iran as a tribute to American soldiers who have recently died. Speaking to reporters upon returning to Washington after attending the World Cup final, Trump stated, "We struck them very hard again tonight, and we did it in honor of the great patriots, likely three of them," referring to the soldiers who died to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Washington Post reported, citing an unnamed American official, that the U.S. is preparing for a broader conflict with Iran following the deaths of American soldiers.
The official, described as familiar with internal discussions within the U.S. administration, indicated that the Pentagon is increasing the number of military aircraft in the Middle East.
The U.S. military confirmed on Monday that it carried out strikes against targets in Iran for the ninth consecutive night. The U.S. Central Command stated in a release, "Tonight, for the ninth consecutive night, a new wave of airstrikes against Iran commenced at 7 p.m. Eastern Time."