With U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliation across the region, the U.S. is now engaged in open conflict with Iran. The question many Americans are asking is: are we, once again, at war in the Middle East? And in terms of military commitment and risks to American troops serving overseas, what does an open conflict with Iran mean for the U.S.? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to share her insights on what is quickly becoming a widening conflict in the Middle East.

<p>With U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliation across the region, the U.S. is now engaged in open conflict with Iran. The question many Americans are asking is: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/28/trump-iran-attack-justification/88920586007/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">are we, once again, at war in the Middle East?</a> And in terms of military commitment and risks to American troops serving overseas, what does an open conflict with Iran mean for the U.S.? USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers joins The Excerpt to share her insights on what is quickly becoming a widening conflict in the Middle East.</p>

USA TODAY’s daily news podcast, The Excerpt (formerly 5 Things), brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week. We also deliver special deep-dive episodes on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons on the most compelling topics in culture, entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Give us fifteen minutes a day, we'll give you all of the headlines, none of the chaos. Hosted by Taylor Wilson and Dana Taylor.  

<p>USA TODAY’s daily news podcast, The Excerpt (formerly 5 Things), brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week. We also deliver special deep-dive episodes on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons on the most compelling topics in culture, entertainment, sports, politics, and more. Give us fifteen minutes a day, we'll give you all of the headlines, none of the chaos. Hosted by Taylor Wilson and Dana Taylor.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>