U.S.-Iran Conflict Enters Second Week with 15,000 Targets Hit and Growing Proxy Threats

The conflict between the United States and Iran has accelerated into its second week, with President Donald Trump stating that Iran is paying a 'big price' as military operations continue. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine reported that U.S. and Israeli forces have struck more than 15,000 targets, focusing on degrading Iran's naval, missile, and nuclear capabilities. Despite the scale of the air campaign, U.S. officials noted that operations are currently prioritized toward neutralizing Iranian assets rather than providing escorts for commercial tankers in the region. The conflict is expanding geographically as Houthi rebels in Yemen signal their intent to join Iran’s 'Axis of Resistance' by targeting Red Sea and Gulf shipping routes. Tensions are further exacerbated by conflicting reports on the ground: Iranian state media claimed to have disabled the USS Abraham Lincoln, a statement the U.S. dismissed as false. Additionally, while Iraqi militia groups claimed responsibility for downing a U.S. KC-135 refueling plane, U.S. Central Command denied the aircraft was lost to hostile fire, though recovery teams have been deployed to the site. The economic impact of the hostilities has reached a critical level, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) declaring the current situation the 'biggest ever oil shock.' Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has increased the pressure on regional neighbors, demanding the closure of U.S. bases on their soil. As the war enters its 14th day, President Trump has urged the public to 'watch what happens,' signaling that the pace of military pressure is unlikely to slow in the immediate future.