DATA & FIGURES
The latest casualties bring the total number of US service members killed since the start of the war on 28 February to at least 17. More than 1,700 Iranian civilians are estimated to have been killed. The Pentagon has launched a 10th consecutive wave of attacks against Iranian targets, with dozens of casualties and damage inflicted by earlier strikes not disclosed by the Pentagon.
THE SCENARIO
The US-Iran conflict has sparked widespread anxiety over climbing casualties, with Democrats urging President Donald Trump to halt the war. The conflict has reignited after President Trump walked away from a memorandum of understanding agreed with Iran in June, with Iranian forces vowing to carry out retaliatory strikes against US Gulf allies.
DIRECT QUOTE
"It needs to end now" — Chris Van Hollen, Democratic senator from Maryland
BBN INSIGHT
The US-Iran conflict has significant implications for the global economy, with the price of oil likely to rise due to the conflict. The conflict also poses a significant risk to global stability, with the potential for the conflict to escalate into a wider regional war. The Positive Side of the conflict is that it may lead to increased cooperation between the US and its allies in the region, while the Negative Side is the significant human cost of the conflict, with thousands of civilians already killed or displaced.
MARKET REACTION
The price of oil has risen due to the conflict, with Brent crude rising by $2 to $70 a barrel. The price of Bitcoin has also risen, with the cryptocurrency increasing by 5% to $12,000.