Why did US and Israel attack Iran and how long could the war last?
Why did US and Israel attack Iran and how long could the war last?
The Middle East saw escalating tensions following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a coordinated assault by the United States and Israel on Saturday. The attack targeted Iran’s missile infrastructure, military installations, and key political figures, including Khamenei, whose Tehran residence was destroyed in the initial strikes. This action sparked immediate retaliation from Iran, which launched missiles and drones at multiple locations across the region.
Initial Strikes and Iranian Response
US President Donald Trump declared the attack a necessary step to pressure Iranians into ending their current government. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the elimination of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Defence Council secretary Ali Shamkhani and IRGC commander Gen Mohammad Pakpour. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) appointed a new leader, Ahmad Vahidi, and escalated its attacks, hitting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, joined the conflict by launching rockets into Israel from its Lebanese bases. Israel retaliated by striking Hezbollah positions, intensifying the regional clash. The IRGC claimed casualties in southern Iran, with a school strike killing over 150 people, including children. Meanwhile, internet access in Iran was nearly cut off, and the country’s airspace was shut down as part of the military response.
Strategic Objectives and Escalation
US Central Command (Centcom) reported additional strikes on Sunday, targeting Iran’s capital and other strategic sites. Trump asserted that the operation destroyed Iran’s naval headquarters and sank 11 ships in the Gulf of Oman, leaving the region without Iranian naval assets. The goal, as stated by Trump, is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, with a promise to “obliterate” its missile industry.
“We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally obliterated,”
he declared in a video posted on Truth Social. Trump also urged Iranians to seize control of their government, saying, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”
The operation, labeled “Epic Fury” by the US, follows weeks of threats from Trump against Iran’s nuclear program. Despite Iran’s claims of peaceful nuclear ambitions, the US aimed to dismantle its security apparatus, focusing on areas deemed imminent threats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strike, stating it was to eliminate “the existential threat from the Iranian terrorist regime.” He dismissed the idea that Israel pressured the US, noting, “Donald Trump is the strongest leader in the world. He does what he thinks is right for America.”
Iran condemned the attacks as “unprovoked, illegal and illegitimate,” and responded with broad strikes against US-aligned nations. Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia were hit, alongside a British base in Cyprus. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed a drone strike at Akrotiri, though no casualties were reported. As the conflict continues, the duration remains uncertain, with both sides demonstrating resolve to escalate further.
