Axios

Just 72 hours after the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran, the war has already consumed nearly the entire Middle East, reached the gates of Europe and raised new fears of attacks on American soil.

Why it matters: The sheer geographic scope of the war is staggering — directly involving at least 11 countries, disrupting the global flow of oil and gas, and rattling markets worldwide.

Congressional security officials are instituting "heightened security measures" at the U.S. Capitol in response to escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to a notice to House offices obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: It is a signal of how seriously domestic law enforcement is taking the possibility of attacks on U.S. soil related to ongoing U.S. operations in Iran.

President Trump has made a scattershot case for Israel and America's joint attacks on Iran through a series of one-on-one interviews with various media outlets.

The big picture: The mission's timelines and goals vary depending on when and to whom Trump is speaking as the administration tries to assure the American public the operation will not be another prolonged war in the Middle East.