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 conflict persists as the US and Israel conduct extensive strikes on Iran, resulting in the death of its supreme leader on 28 February. Iran retaliated by targeting Israeli and US-aligned nations in the Gulf, escalating tensions across the region. Casualties and destruction have surged on all fronts, with Lebanon now caught in the crossfire.
Initial Strikes and Leadership Loss
US and Israeli forces initially focused on Iran’s missile capabilities, military installations, and key leadership figures. Among the casualties was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had guided the country since 1989. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was declared successor on 8 March. Additional high-ranking officials, such as security chief Ali Larijani and intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, were also eliminated during the strikes.
“The targeting of civilians and of countries not involved in the conflict is a clear violation of international law,” stated a US official in response to Iran’s accusations.
Expanding the Frontlines
Amid the conflict, US and Israeli forces struck critical nuclear facilities, which Iran insists are peaceful. Oil and gas infrastructure, including Iran’s major terminal on Kharg Island and the South Pars gas field, were also hit. On 4 March, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 people.
Iran’s retaliatory actions included missile and drone strikes on Israeli government and military targets in Tel Aviv and beyond. By 29 March, Israel’s MDA ambulance service reported 19 casualties from missile attacks. The war has also spread to Gulf states hosting US bases, with thirteen American troops killed in strikes across Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Casualty Reports and Regional Impact
According to HRANA, 3,530 individuals have perished in Iran since the conflict began, including 1,606 civilians and 244 children. The US and Israel’s attack on a girls’ school near an IRGC base on 28 February was blamed for 168 deaths, with Iran claiming the strike was unprovoked. US officials admitted to investigating the incident, while Israel denied awareness of operations in the area.
Elsewhere, a French soldier was killed in northern Iraq by an Iranian drone targeting a Kurdish base. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence reported seven fatalities in an airstrike on Anbar province, though the attacker’s identity remained unclear. The PMF, a group formed to combat ISIS, also reported 27 of its members lost in the fighting.
In the West Bank, four Palestinian women were killed in a beauty salon during an Iranian missile strike. Turkey claimed three Iranian missiles were shot down by NATO defenses over its airspace, while Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking an airport with drones. The US and its Arab allies have condemned Iran’s actions, emphasizing the “illegitimate” nature of the attacks.