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Donald Trump entered the Iran war with more opposition than support, and nearly five months of fighting have made the political problem worse. The president still holds the loyalty of most MAGA Republicans, but polling since early March shows independents, non-MAGA Republicans, and voters focused on household costs moving away from his strategy.

A March 3 YouGov survey found that 48 percent of Americans disapproved of the initial U.S. attacks, while 37 percent approved. Independents were more than twice as likely to oppose the operation as to support it.

Iraq Is Sending Thousands of Fuel Trucks Through Syria to Bypass Hormuz: Iraq is moving fuel oil by truck through Syria and Jordan as Baghdad tries to keep exports flowing without relying on the Strait of Hormuz. Thousands of tanker trucks are making four- to six-day journeys from Iraqi refineries to Mediterranean and Red Sea ports, creating an expensive but immediate route around the disrupted waterway.

Iraq’s Oil Ministry estimates that about 1 million metric tons of fuel oil were moved by truck to Syria and Jordan in June, twice the May volume.

Iran Has Effectively Closed the Strait of Hormuz Again. Just 3 Commodity Ships Crossed in One Day: Iran has again reduced commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a near-standstill, despite competing claims from Washington and Tehran over who controls the waterway. A CNBC report on the renewed shutdown described shipping as stalled after Iran declared the strait closed again during the latest round of fighting.

Only three commodity vessels crossed the strait on Thursday, July 16, the lowest daily number since May, according to ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters.

Iran Says Bushehr’s Reactor Is Still Operating. Satellite Images Show New Damage Inside the Nuclear Complex: Iran says its only operating nuclear power reactor remained online after strikes hit areas around Bushehr, yet satellite images taken days apart show new impact scars inside the nuclear complex. An Al Jazeera analysis of Sentinel-2 imagery found apparent damage that emerged between July 7 and July 12.

The imagery shows one apparent impact inside the Bushehr site and another around nearby support facilities.

U.S. Central Command said Saturday that two American service members were tragically killed in action in Jordan on Friday, July 17, and that one more is missing in action, as American and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Four others were evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and have since been discharged. CENTCOM is withholding the names until twenty-four hours after the next of kin are notified. Axios reported that at least two Iranian ballistic missiles struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.

Ukraine Says Russia’s Personnel Losses Reached 1.43 Million as Recruitment Falls Behind: Ukraine’s General Staff estimates that Russia’s personnel losses have reached approximately 1,428,930 since the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24, 2022. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s July 19 update added 1,520 personnel to the total for the previous day.

The same update attributed five tanks, seven armored fighting vehicles, 92 artillery systems, 1,858 operational-tactical drones, and 547 vehicles and fuel tanks to Russia’s daily losses.

Russia Added $20 Billion in Cash as Internet Blackouts Hit Card Payments: Russia’s stock of physical cash has increased by 1.56 trillion rubles, about $20 billion, since the start of 2026 as mobile internet shutdowns disrupt card payments and businesses face greater pressure to keep sales outside the tax system. A BBC analysis of Bank of Russia data said the increase was the largest for the period outside the pandemic.

Traffic was at a standstill as an accident, combined with the early morning rush to get to work in the capital city of Columbia, S.C., brought the usually routine drive of dropping off two young, middle school-aged boys to school to an abrupt halt.
Just one day earlier, the boys had learned that their father, a member of the United States Army, was being transferred to a post in Germany. In their two-plus years living in the nearby town of Camden, these boys, this family, had become part of the fabric of the community.

Ukraine Hit 3 Russian Oil Depots And A Shadow Fleet Tanker In One Night: Ukraine says its Security Service struck three Russian oil depots and a sanctioned tanker during coordinated drone operations that targeted Moscow’s fuel network on land and at sea.

The Security Service of Ukraine said its drones reached three petroleum storage facilities in Russia’s Stavropol region, about 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The agency reported fires and explosions involving fuel tanks at all three locations.

Putin in Red Square in 2017 Creative Commons Image.

Americans Oppose Trump’s Iran War By 30 Points As His Exit Options Narrow: Americans now oppose the United States’ decision to enter the war in Iran by a 30-point margin, giving President Donald Trump a domestic political problem alongside the military and diplomatic challenges in the Persian Gulf.

An Economist analysis described the conflict as America’s least popular war since comparable polling began.

Trump Making An Announcement. Image Credit: White House.