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 remains embroiled in conflict following a series of coordinated strikes by the US and Israel against Iran. These attacks, launched on 28 February, targeted Iran’s missile systems, military installations, and leadership, culminating in the death of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The operation sparked immediate retaliation from Iran, which launched assaults on Israel and US-backed states in the Gulf. The conflict rapidly intensified, spreading to Lebanon and escalating into a broader regional crisis.
Key Targets and Initial Strikes
The US and Israel focused their initial efforts on dismantling Iran’s strategic infrastructure. This included critical missile facilities, military bases, and key figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Among the casualties was Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, who was designated as his successor on 8 March. Additional high-ranking targets included security chief Ali Larijani, intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, all struck during air raids.
Iran’s nuclear programme and energy sectors were also under attack. US and Israeli forces targeted oil terminals on Kharg Island, a vital economic hub, and the South Pars gas field, part of the world’s largest natural gas reserve. Beyond Iran’s borders, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, resulting in at least 87 fatalities.
Casualties and Retaliatory Actions
Iranian officials reported 3,530 deaths since the conflict began, with 1,606 civilians, including 244 children, among the victims. The country accused the US and Israel of attacking a girls’ school near an IRGC base, claiming 168 people, including 110 children, were killed. The US said it was investigating the incident, while Israel denied conducting military operations in the area. Video analysis by BBC Verify showed a US Tomahawk missile struck the base, though Israel claimed it was unaware of the attack.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes, labeling the US and Israeli actions as “unprovoked” and “illegitimate.” The IRGC targeted Israeli government and military sites in Tel Aviv, while attacks on US allies spread to Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Thirteen US troops were killed in these strikes, with additional casualties reported in the Gulf, mostly security personnel and foreign workers.
International Reactions and Spillover
Iran’s aggression extended beyond its immediate neighbors. In northern Iraq, a drone strike killed a French soldier at a Kurdish military base, and seven Iraqi soldiers were reportedly slain in an airstrike in Anbar province. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), established to combat the Islamic State, also reported 27 of its members killed. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, four Palestinian women were killed at a beauty salon during an Iranian missile strike.
Regional tensions grew as Turkey claimed NATO defenses downed three Iranian missiles in its airspace, and Azerbaijan accused Iran of drone attacks on its airport. The US and its Arab allies condemned Iran’s strikes, emphasizing the targeting of civilians and nations not directly involved in the conflict. Meanwhile, international journalists faced restricted access, and internet connectivity in Iran was nearly cut off, limiting information flow.
On 3 April, a US F-15 jet was shot down over western Iran. The pilot was rescued, and a search-and-rescue mission, which faced enemy fire, recovered the second crew member by 4 April. The incident underscores the scale of the conflict’s reach, with operations now spanning multiple countries and involving diverse actors.
