EXPLAINER
Iran War: What a Marine Expeditionary Unit is – and other US military terms
The US has deployed thousands of additional Marines and airborne troops to the Middle East since the Iran war began.
![US Marines from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Philippine Marines take part in a boat raid exercise during a joint military exercise [File:Bullit Marquez/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AP565680796683-1775042266.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
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What is LNG and what is it used for?
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EXPLAINER
How much of the Gulf’s water comes from desalination plants?
Gulf states produce 40 percent of the world’s total desalinated water through more than 400 plants.
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Which countries have seen the highest petrol prices since the Iran war?
At least 95 countries have reported petrol price rises since the attacks on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28.
EXPLAINER
How will soaring oil prices caused by Iran war impact food costs?
Oil and gas are not just fuel. They are raw materials for thousands of products, including fertilisers used in farming.
EXPLAINER
Where do the 35 million foreigners living in the GCC come from?
More than half of the 62 million people in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are foreign workers.
BY THE NUMBERS
Which US and Israeli military companies are profiting from the Iran war?
Defence stocks reach all-time highs, driven by need to produce billions of dollars of weapons systems.
BY THE NUMBERS
Map shows how big Iran is compared with the 50 US states
Iran is roughly the same size as Alaska, 2.5 times the size of Texas and covers about one-sixth of the US land area.
Which oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have been attacked?
Damage to several energy facilities has caused global prices to spike, but Iran denies it is targeting energy sites.
How many countries has the US bombed since 2001, and how much has it cost?
Since 9/11, the US has engaged in three full-scale wars, bombing at least 10 countries under four presidents.
US-Israel attacks on Iran: Death toll and injuries live tracker
Preliminary figures are 1,937 dead in Iran, at least 24 in Israel, 13 US soldiers and 27 killed in Gulf states.
EXPLAINER
Mapping US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes
The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran. Tehran has responded by launching missiles at Israel and Gulf states.
