US President Trump posted on Truth Social claiming Iran's navy, air force, missiles, drones and leaders decimated in a war less than two weeks old. The Financial Times reported the US expended years' worth of key munitions, including Tomahawk missiles. Trump stated the operation will last up to 5 weeks as Middle East death toll surpasses 500.
A South China Morning Post opinion piece published on March 17, 2026, analyzes Trump’s position in the war with Iran, which began less than two weeks prior. It quotes Trump’s Truth Social post: “Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth.” Trump also claimed: “We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time.” The article notes these as exaggerations but acknowledges heavy US-inflicted damage. However, the Financial Times reported the US expended years’ worth of key munitions, including large numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles. With US midterm elections approaching, Trump lacks time. Iran, with little to lose, can continue striking Israel and US bases using producible drones and missiles. A snippet mentions Trump saying the Iran operation will last up to 5 weeks as the Middle East death toll surpasses 500. The piece questions US national strategy in the Middle East, citing at least six wars since the 1980s, and describes Israel as America’s Achilles’ heel due to the close US-Israel ties and pro-Israel lobby influence.
