Speaking deliberatively - but not quite with the level of his typically confident and energetic tone and demeanor - he spoke initially and broadly on the rationale for ordering the attack on Iran, which is now in day three and has taken at least four American troop lives at this point. Trump vowed to "crush" the "Iranian threat posed to the US," claiming that "we will easily prevail". He declared that already US forces have knocked out ten ships, and that the plan is to also ensure the Iranians "can't fund armies beyond borders". But high on the minds of Congressional leaders and the American public is: what's next? Trump gave a timeline of a "projected four to five weeks" for war with Iran, "but we can go longer" and this will involve "whatever it takes." He vowed to continue the mission with "unyielding resolve" - even amid reports that US Gulf allies UAE and Qatar are now lobbying allies to persuade Trump to end the Iran war soon (as the Gulf continues to feel the impact of Iran's retaliatory strikes). The President just committed the nation to another potentially open-ended war in the Middle East.

Trump claims 'big wave' coming against Iran as Pentagon says more troops deployed to region
UAE Defense Ministry says air defenses intercepted 9 ballistic missiles and 148 drones
IDF says it struck over 70 Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in Lebanon
In the middle of remarks on Iran, Trump touts White House ballroom construction
US military says it has struck over 1,250 targets in Iran since start of ops
CENTCOM: Two days ago, the Iranian regime had 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, today they have ZERO.
IDF Intelligence Chief: "We eliminated in 40 seconds more than 40 of the most important people in Iran, but we haven't finished. There is no place where we won't find our enemies."
The IDF struck numerous assets belonging to the financial institution that helps Hezbollah sustain itself.
NATO leadership says alliance won't join US-Israeli Iran ops
Trump says he does not rule out sending ground troops to Iran: "I don't have the yips with respect to boots on the ground — like every president says, 'There will be no boots on the ground.' I don't say it," Trump said after launching strikes Saturday to decapitate Iran's military and political leadership. "I say 'probably don't need them,' [or] 'if they were necessary.'"
QatarEnergy's LNG production halt could shake up global gas markets.
Iran FM: Regional countries should pressure US to halt Iran strikes, says not at war with Gulf/regional countries
Advisor to IRGC says Strait of Hormuz has been closed and they will target any ship. Whether true or not: How many ships will be willing to go through with Iranian kamikaze drones taking pot shots?

Update(1015ET): The Pentagon has announced it has gained complete 'local air superiority' over Iran, and also that Israel continues working with the US to eliminate 'common threats'. This came soon on the heels of the shocking news of three US F-15s downed over Kuwait. Iran is claiming to have shot down at least one US jet, while the US and Kuwait counter-claim that it was actually Kuwaiti 'friendly fire'. Some six total US airmen parachuted down safely into Kuwaiti territory.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has meanwhile stated that at this point approximately 600 Iranian infrastructure sites have been dismantled in Iran using 2,500 munitions. These sites included "over 20 targets belonging to Iranian military leaders," the IDF said. But as the conflict expands into Lebanon, and as many Gulf countries continue witnessing inbound Iranian missiles and drones, NATO command has distanced itself from the conflict, with Secretary General Mark Rutte stating Monday that the alliance "will not participate" in the joint US-Israeli mission. The Joint Chiefs say that more American service members are being added to the operation.