F-35 Shot Down, Oil Prices Soar in Iran-US Conflict

0:00On March 19th, a U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jet took a hit from Iranian forces and made an emergency landing at a nearby American airbase. This is the first time a U.S. aircraft has been struck since the war kicked off 19 days ago. The $100 million plane landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition, though it's unclear if there were any injuries. Officials have launched an investigation. Just under an hour later, Donald Trump told reporters that Iran's anti-aircraft defenses are completely wiped out. Meanwhile, Pentagon briefings echo that, with officials saying U.S. and Israeli strikes have flattened those systems. Military leaders reported ongoing operations, like bombing underground weapon sites, and hunting Iranian drones in boats. The strike happened right as the tax ramped up on key oil refineries across the Gulf. Iran targeted facilities in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others, closing ports and sparking fires.

1:00That sent oil prices soaring, U.S. crew jumped almost 5 percent, while the global Brent benchmark hit $118 a barrel, up over 60 percent since the fighting began. Human toll is growing, with more than 1,300 killed in Iran, plus deaths in Israel, Lebanon, and among U.S. troops, at least 13. American so far, Israel emitted some damage to its northern power grid, and allies are furious over hits to their energy sites. The Pentagon now wants $200 billion extra to keep fighting. Leaders on both sides warn of more pain ahead, from targeting Iranian commanders to threats against gas fields as this tense conflict stretches into. It's the third week with no end in sight.