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?
Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
The Middle East remains in turmoil following a series of strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, which resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader on 28 February. In response, Iran launched attacks on Israel and US-aligned nations in the Gulf, intensifying the conflict and drawing Lebanon into the fray. Casualties and damage have risen sharply across all fronts, with the war showing no signs of slowing down.
Initial Strikes and Leadership Loss
The US and Israel’s first offensive focused on Iran’s missile systems, military installations, and key figures within the leadership. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader since 1989, was among those killed during the initial phase. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was swiftly declared the next supreme leader on 8 March. Additional high-ranking targets included Ali Larijani, the security chief; Esmail Khatib, the intelligence minister; and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force. Israel attributed these strikes to air attacks.
Targeting Nuclear and Economic Infrastructure
Alongside leadership hits, the strikes aimed at Iran’s nuclear facilities and critical energy sites. The US and Israel targeted locations like Kharg Island, a key oil terminal, and South Pars, part of the world’s largest natural gas field. On 4 March, an Iranian warship was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, causing at least 87 fatalities. The incident sparked further accusations, with Iran claiming a girls’ school near an IRGC base was hit, killing 168, including 110 children.
“US Tomahawk missiles struck a military base near the school, according to expert video analysis,” reported BBC Verify.
International Fallout and Casualties
Iran accused the US and Israel of launching an “unprovoked” and “illegitimate” assault, retaliating with widespread missile and drone attacks. The IRGC targeted Israeli sites in Tel Aviv and other regions, with Israel’s ambulance service reporting 19 deaths from missile fire by 29 March. The conflict also spread to Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, where 13 US service members and at least 24 others were killed.
Regional Spillovers and Diversified Attacks
Amid the cross-border strikes, casualties extended beyond Iran. In northern Iraq, a French soldier was killed by a drone at a Kurdish military base. On 25 March, seven Iraqi soldiers died in an airstrike in Anbar province, though the attacker remains unidentified. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reported 27 of their members lost in the fighting. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, four Palestinian women were killed at a beauty salon by an Iranian missile. Turkey claimed its airspace was breached by three Iranian missiles, while Azerbaijan alleged an airport was struck by drones.
Human Toll and Global Condemnation
According to HRANA, a US-based human rights group, 3,530 people have died in Iran since hostilities began, with 1,606 civilians and 244 children among the victims. The US has acknowledged investigating the girls’ school attack, while Israel stated it was “not aware” of operations in the area. International access to Iran has been limited, and internet connectivity has been nearly severed. Despite the chaos, US and Arab allies have condemned Iran’s actions, highlighting the targeting of civilians and non-allied states as a major concern.