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U.S. Offensive Seeks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz as Hegseth Confirms He’s Seeking $200B for Iran War

HeadlineMar 20, 2026

The Pentagon has launched an offensive aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with low-flying jets and helicopter gunships patrolling the waterway for Iranian ships and one-way attack drones. The offensive got underway as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published video appearing to show a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet being struck over Iranian airspace. The Pentagon said one of its $100 million stealth fighters had been forced to make an emergency landing at a U.S. air base in the Middle East. On Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon has asked for $200 billion in additional funding for the war on Iran.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: “As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move, obviously. It takes — it takes money to kill bad guys.”

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