Trump vows Iran war to end "very quickly" as more troops head to Mideast

The United States is sending roughly 9,000 additional service members to the Middle East as the seven-month war involving Iran continues, according to U.S. officials reported by CBS News and the Associated Press. The new mobilization comes as President Donald Trump insisted that the conflict will reach a conclusion rapidly, possibly near the upcoming midterm elections in November.

The incoming deployments include the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the USS Makin Island Amphibious Group. According to an official speaking to the Associated Press, the movement involves about 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, with their arrival projected before the end of October. Once these units arrive, the American footprint in the theater could encompass three aircraft carrier strike groups and around 20,000 personnel, joining the USS George H.W. Bush, the USS George Washington, and the USS Boxer amphibious readiness group already operating in the region.

Speaking Thursday evening at a facility in Denton, Texas, President Trump asserted that the Iranian government is near collapse. Trump stated that the confrontation with Tehran would be brought to a swift close, suggesting a victory could arrive directly after the election, or potentially prior to it. He also asserted that elevated domestic fuel costs driven by the conflict would soon drop significantly, while arguing that a lack of clear leadership in Tehran has complicated diplomatic interactions.

Separately, Trump addressed a recent incident on an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight involving an alleged cockpit attack by a co-pilot. When questioned by reporters on whether Tehran had connections to the event or if the individual may have acted alongside Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, Trump indicated that preliminary information pointed in that direction, though he noted that authorities were still investigating the matter. He warned of strong retaliation if Iranian involvement is proven.

The expanded military posture coincides with heightened regional friction and economic fallout. In Yemen, the Saudi-led military coalition accused Tehran-aligned Houthi forces of launching a drone against an electrical facility in Medina, a city holding Islam's second-holiest site. Saudi officials reported damage to a transformer, an accusation the Houthis have denied amid escalating airstrikes in the country.

At the same time, international leaders are attempting to manage energy disruptions tied to the hostilities. European Union members have considered a French proposal to tap strategic stockpiles, contemplating the release of 50 million barrels of diesel alongside crude oil releases through the International Energy Agency, while seeking assurances against prospective U.S. export bans on fuel.