Amidst the ongoing war in West Asia, America has demanded huge funding of 200 billion dollars for the ongoing conflict with Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that money is needed to eliminate bad people. This request from the Pentagon has come at a time when Iran has shot down an F-35 fighter plane of the US Air Force during the war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has also given a big statement on the use of army in the war with Iran. Let us tell you what are the major updates during the ongoing war in the Middle East?
I am not sending troops anywhere – Trump
Amidst the increasing tension in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump, during his meeting with Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office on Thursday (March 19, 2026), clearly said that he will not send American troops anywhere. He said that even if I did this, I would not tell you, but I am not sending American troops anywhere.
Iran targeted American F-35 fighter plane
In the ongoing war with Israel and America, Iran has targeted American F-35 fighter aircraft. After Iran’s attack, American fighter jet had to make emergency landing. US Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said that this fifth generation stealth fighter jet was on a combat mission over Iran when it had to make an emergency landing in the Middle East.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed to have targeted an American F-35 fighter plane in the skies of central Iran. Iran says the fate of the plane after the attack is unknown, but it is likely that it has gone down.
Britain-Germany-France issued a joint statement
Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Japan said on Thursday (March 19, 2026) that they are ready to cooperate in efforts to ensure safe sea passage through the Strait of Hormuz, amid threats to global trade and energy supplies due to tensions in the Gulf region. In a joint statement of the six Western allied countries, we said that we welcome the commitment of those countries who are preparing to work in this direction.
Pentagon asked for 200 billion dollars from US Parliament
In fact, there are no signs of ending the ongoing war between America, Israel and Iran, meanwhile the Pentagon has demanded funding of $ 200 billion from the US Congress. According to the report of the Associated Press, a senior administration official said that a request in this regard has also been sent to the White House.
However, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not confirm the amount sought by the Pentagon in his press conference on Thursday (March 19, 2026), but he did say that the Pentagon has requested for funding. He said that money is needed to eliminate bad people. We’re going to Congress so our partners can make sure we get adequate funding.
Iran’s foreign minister threatened
At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened America and Israel on the social media platform X and said that we have used only a small part of our power in response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure. If Iran’s energy bases are attacked again during the war, Tehran will not exercise any restraint.
Also read: Will America send troops to Iran? Donald Trump clears the picture amid war in the Middle East