On February 28th 2026, a Tomahawk missile hit an Iranian school, killing 175 people, most of which were children. According to CBS, the US was likely responsible.
The US killed Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike, however, this international conflict is not considered an official war since President Trump did not receive congressional approval to declare war.
In response, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel for 20% of the world’s oil. Consequently, oil prices have gone up — U.S. gas prices are now averaging $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022.
Why did the US strike?
The Trump administration has given various reasons for the military offensive against Iran. According to the administration, they wish to prevent Iran from making nuclear weapons.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also cited nuclear weapons as a reason to take down Iran. However, according to the Arms Control Association, there is no evidence that Iran is an imminent threat or has been developing nuclear weapons.
Additionally, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that Israel was going to strike Iran “with or without” the U.S., and that the Trump administration bombed Iran in order to avoid a preemptive strike.
The fallout
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian wrote an open letter to the U.S. accusing the Trump administration of abandoning their “America First” campaign.
“Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war? Was there any objective threat from Iran to justify such behavior?” wrote Pezeshkian.
This sentiment is also admitted by a Tel-Aviv based thinktank called Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).
“A large part of the American public will view it as the Israeli tail wagging the American dog and that it is dragging the United States to a war in the Middle East that isn’t theirs,” says INSS researcher Ofer Shela.
A Reuter’s poll demonstrates America’s disapproval of the war. 86% are concerned about the lives of those in the American military and 21% believe that the war will result in Iranian lives getting worse.
Cost of the attack
Approximately 168 girls between the age of 7 and 12 were killed when a Tomahawk missile hit Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Southern Iran. As of April 2nd, according to US-based human rights group HRANA, there have been 1,606 civilian deaths, 1,213 military deaths, and 711 unclassified deaths, totaling to 2,530 fatalities.
Additionally, Israel also struck Lebanon and killed up to 39 civilians. At least 29 Israelis have been killed in the war.
In addition to the casualties, the war has taken a toll on American pocketbooks.
To combat the increase in gas prices, President Trump has asked for U.S. allies to escort ships through the strait. When other nations refused to get involved, he responded on Truth Social.
“Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices,” Trump wrote.
56% of adult Americans believe this war will have a negative impact on their personal financial situation.
President Trump has yet to give a clear, consistent time frame for ending the war.
