The Iran war has cost the US tens of billions of dollars and hundreds of casualties, and it is bad news for taxpayers, the military, and Trump, who is losing support even among Republicans.

• The Pentagon's own watchdog puts the war's cost above $33 billion so far, most of it in used-up bombs and missiles plus lost planes and drones, and that figure only runs through June.
• The Congressional Budget Office says it will cost another $2–3 billion every month, and Congress never approved dedicated money, so the Pentagon is pulling cash from its normal budgets.
• Eighteen US troops are dead and casualties jumped to over 770 by late August, with more than 50,000 soldiers still deployed in the region.
• US officials say morale is low, ships need repairs, and the White House's bet that Iran would crack before the Navy does has not paid off; Iran is treating this as a fight for survival and firing missiles at warships to squeeze the US economy before the midterms.
• The House voted again to block further military action against Iran, this time with seven Republicans joining, but the Senate has ignored a similar measure since July.

Outlook: Trump has floated staying to "keep the oil" like in Venezuela, so the war looks set to drag on as a costly stalemate unless the Senate acts or the White House opens real talks with Iran.