Now in its third week, the Iran war has engulfed the Middle East, killed more than 2,000 people and sent oil prices skyrocketing worldwide. The United States and Israel continue to strike Iran daily. Israel is also fighting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In response, the Iranian regime — now led by Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — has launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel and at U.S. military targets in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. By threatening to bomb ships, Tehran has forced the Strait of Hormuz to close, blocking one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

There is no sign the widening conflict will end anytime soon. President Trump has repeatedly touted American military success, claiming on Monday that U.S. strikes have “literally obliterated” Iran. But he has also said that the war will be over only “when I feel it — when I feel it in my bones.”

Likewise, Iran’s foreign minister had rejected reports that his country is seeking a peace deal. “We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,” Abbas Araghchi told CBS on Sunday. “This is what we have done so far, and we continue to do that until President Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory.”

Here’s a quick recap of the latest developments in the Iran war — and how we got to this point over the last 21 days.

U.S. ramps up attacks, deploys more troops: U.S. officials told the Associated Press on Friday that the USS Boxer and two other amphibious assault ships, along with roughly 2,500 Marines, are bound for the Middle East from San Diego. The news comes just days after the U.S. sent another group of amphibious assault ships carrying Marines to the region. In total, about 5,000 additional troops are now headed to the Middle East. At the same time, U.S. warplanes and attack helicopters are ramping up assaults against Iranian drones and naval vessels in an escalating effort to clear the Strait of Hormuz.

When asked on Thursday if he planned to put boots on the ground in Iran, Trump was cagey. “I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump told a reporter. “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.” Axios reported on Friday that the Trump administration is considering plans to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by occupying or blockading Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.

Tehran threatens enemies, tourist sites: In a statement issued on Friday, Iran’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, called for the “internal and external enemies” of his nation to have their “security” taken away. Meanwhile, a top Iranian military spokesman threatened to pursue U.S. and Israeli officials beyond active conflict zones. “From now on, based on the information we have about you, even parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations anywhere in the world will no longer be safe for you,” he said. Another military spokesman, Gen. Ali Mohammad Naini, insisted that Iran is still “producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling.” Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that recent attacks had destroyed Iran’s ability to make ballistic missiles. Iranian state television reported that Naini was killed early Friday in an airstrike.

Oil prices soar after strikes on energy sites: Iranian state media reported on Wednesday that airstrikes had hit its giant South Pars natural gas field — as well as nearby oil and petrochemical facilities — in the southern city of Asaluyeh. International oil prices jumped more than 6% to nearly $110 a barrel following the news. Natural gas prices also shot up. Most of the energy from South Pars is used domestically in Iran. Qatar blamed Israel for the strike.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on energy sites in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal, the largest liquefied natural gas facility in the world, was seriously damaged. Oil prices briefly topped $115 a barrel.

On social media, Trump said the U.S. and Qatar were not involved in the South Pars strike — which he also attributed to Israel — but threatened to “massively blow up” the gas field if Iran retaliated again.

“I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term [sic] implications that it will have on the future of Iran,” Trump wrote, “but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/article/iran-war-latest-updates-us-deploys-thousands-more-troops-tehran-threatens-tourist-destinations-and-other-key-events-that-got-us-here-170844817.html

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SEE ALSO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaSXPSm_Lck

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         POLITICAL CARTOONIST SINCE 1951.