Iran-US war latest: Hegseth met by protesters as he arrives for Senate grilling

Trump attacks reporter for suggesting he has no plan for Iran, accuses regime of 'killing kids like candy'Several anti-war protesters repeatedly interrupted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his appearance in front of a Senate committee as he demands billions of dollars to support the Trump administration’s escalating war with Iran after a 10th consecutive night of attacks.“Iranian Americans are against this war of aggression,” one protester shouted out. “Your hands are bloody.”Another shouted out “Stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine” and condemned an “illegal” war.Tuesday’s testimony from Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine follows the deaths of at least three American service members within two days, with nearly 100 other troops injured within the last month after the collapse of a fragile ceasefire.At least 18 American troops have died since the beginning of the war, and more than 400 others have been injured.Hegseth and Caine last testified to members of Congress about the war in May, around the same time they last delivered a public briefing to the press. They are asking for another $67 billion from Congress to cover mounting costs for the war.Their appearance also follows the president’s meeting at the White House alongside Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, where Trump told reporters that the U.S. could devastate Iran’s infrastructure in ways that it would take “decades” for Tehran to rebuild.Murray: 'The truth is your request does not make a lot of sense'Sen. Patty Murray listed several items in the funding request that have no relation to the Iran war, including $800 million for the National Guard to patrol D.C., $1 billion for troops on the U.S-Mexico border and $900 million for boat strikes of suspected drug traffickers.“The truth is your request does not make a lot of sense,” she said. “Why is the urgently needed for the Iran war?”Hegseth has repeatedly said throughout the hearing that the Defense Department is now struggling due to “gross negligence and neglect” under the Biden administration, which “abandoned” the U.S. “strength posture around the world.”Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:42Hegseth doesn't mention 3 dead service members as Caine honors themHegseth did not mention the war in Iran let alone the deaths of at least three U.S. service members in recent days as he addressed the committee in his opening remarks.Gen. Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who is testifying alongside Hegseth, opened his remarks recognizing the service members.Caine expressed his “deep condolences and the condolences of the Joint Force” to the families of the fallen soldiers.Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:38Hegseth says not supporting funding request 'is the greatest threat our nation faces'The Department of Defense is seeking a $1.5 trillion overall budget, which includes $67 billion in supplemental funding.That includes $21 billion for military pay, replacing equipment, sustaining forces, and addressing “mission critical fuel shortfalls,” Hegseth said.Another $46 billions will “expand production” as well as munitions, including counter-drone capabilities, and for “digital and space dominance,” he said.“Not fully funding this department I believe is the greatest threat our nation faces,” he said. “Either invest in our warriors … or this is all just talk.”(Getty)Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:19Protesters interrupt Hegseth testimony moments into opening statementsAt least four protesters have interrupted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s opening remarks as he urges the committee to approve billions of dollars in taxpayer funding for the Iran war.“This is against the Iranian people,” one person said.“Stop bombing our children in Iran and Palestine. This is illegal,” another protester shouted.(AFP/Getty)Alex Woodward21 July 2026 20:14Top Republican blasts Hegseth and Caine for sidelining women and Black officers for promotionsDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked at least two women, two Black men and three white men from promotions as the Pentagon allegedly violates the U.S. military's apolitical and merit-based promotion rules.Hegseth also allegedly tried to prevent several one-star admirals from advancing in rank.Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said the reports are “deeply troubling.”“The United States is one of the greatest meritocracies. We need to make sure that it stays that way,” she said.(Getty)Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:52Sen. Murray: Trump has 'blundered' US into 'disastrous war'Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted the “astronomical” costs of the “disastrous” Iran war in her opening remarks.Tens of billions of Americans’ tax dollars have been spent as Trump “blundered us into a disastrous war,” she said.“What has actually been achieved?” she asked.The way the administration has “blissfully operated with no plan of success is disrespectful to our men and women in uniform,” she said.Four months after the star of the war, Trump is now “threatening escalation and war crimes” after saying the conflict would be ending more than 40 times, she said.The administration is “now asking for $70 billion more and to just trust him that it will work out fine,” she said.Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:48Trump's meeting with Aoun 'went very well,' White House adviser saysMassad Boulos, a senior adviser to Trump on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, told reporters that the president’s meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun “went very well.”“There was a very good chemistry between the two presidents,” Boulos said. “It went very well. It was very productive.”Asked whether the U.S. has any leverage over Hezbollah, Boulos said “there are always options.”There are always tools that the president has at his disposal that he can employ at any time,” he said.“There are many, many tools,” Boulos added. “You have seen already some of them by the Treasury Department, by other departments. The president and Secretary of State have always said they have tools at their disposal that they may choose to take up at any time.”(Getty)Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:18Pentagon names North Carolina soldier killed in Iraq by downed Iranian droneSgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq on July 19.Sgt. Swinton was assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.Swinton was among at least three service members who were killed in recent days. At least two other service members were killed during a strike in Jordan, and remains that were recovered are believed to belong to a third service member who was missing after that attack.Alex Woodward21 July 2026 19:02Dignified transfer of service members has been postponed, White House saysThe dignified transfer of the remains of at least one U.S. service member killed in the Middle East has been postponed, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.Donald Trump was expected to attend the ceremony with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the remains returned to the U.S. on Tuesday night at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.“The exact day and time are still being finalized,” Leavitt said.The reason for the postponement was not immediately clear.Alex Woodward21 July 2026 18:45Top Democrat wants 'quick' end to war, not billions in tax dollars 'to keep it going'Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, is expected to tell top defense officials from Donald Trump’s administration that Americans “want to see a quick and strategic end to this war, not $70 billion of their tax dollars sent to keep it going.”Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine are asking for another $67 billion from Congress to cover mounting costs for the war after asking for $88 billion earlier this year.They last testified to members of Congress about the war in May, around the same time they last delivered a public briefing to the press.(Reuters)Alex Woodward21 July 2026 18:30