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US war in Iran cost $37.5 billion so far, Pentagon says
Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Jana Choukeir, Nayera Abdallah and Elwely Elwelly Reuters , Waco Tribune-Herald
· July 21, 2026
· 1 min read
Two tankers reversed course in the Red Sea on Tuesday after threats from Iran-aligned Houthis, as the Middle East conflict disrupted shipping through two of the world's key energy chokepoints.
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Jana Choukeir, Nayera Abdallah and Elwely Elwelly Reuters, Waco Tribune-Herald Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 21, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Why this matters in The Waco
The escalating tensions in the Middle East have significant implications for Waco residents, particularly when it comes to the cost of living. As the conflict disrupts shipping through key energy chokepoints, the prices of gasoline and other fuels are likely to rise. This could have a ripple effect on the local economy, impacting commuters, businesses, and industries that rely on transportation. With the Pentagon already estimating the cost of the US involvement in the conflict at $37.5 billion, it's likely that these costs will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher fuel prices. As a result, Waco residents may need to budget for increased transportation costs, which could have a disproportionate impact on low-income households and small businesses. The city's transportation infrastructure and energy costs will be worth watching in the coming weeks to see how the conflict affects local pocketbooks.
About this story
Original reporting by Waco Tribune-Herald . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: July 21, 2026 ·
Source: Waco Tribune-Herald ·
Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Two tankers reversed course in the Red Sea on Tuesday after threats from Iran-aligned Houthis, as the Middle East conflict disrupted shipping through two of the world's key energy chokepoints.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 21, 2026 by Waco Tribune-Herald and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jana Choukeir, Nayera Abdallah and Elwely Elwelly Reuters at Waco Tribune-Herald. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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