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 intensified after the United States and Israel executed a series of strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of its supreme leader on 28 February. Iran retaliated by launching attacks on Israel and US-backed nations in the Gulf region. The violence spread swiftly, involving Lebanon, with rising numbers of casualties and infrastructure damage across all parties.
Initial Strikes and Targets
On the first day of the assault, the US and Israel focused their efforts on Iran’s missile facilities, military installations, and key leadership figures in Tehran and other locations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader since 1989, was among those killed. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was declared the new successor by Iran on 8 March. Additional high-ranking officials, including security chief Ali Larijani and intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, were also targeted. The Basij paramilitary leader, Gholamreza Soleimani, fell victim to the strikes.
The US and Israel further aimed their attacks at Iran’s nuclear facilities and energy infrastructure. These included Kharg Island, a vital oil hub, and South Pars, a significant natural gas field. Separately, a US submarine in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka destroyed an Iranian warship on 4 March, claiming at least 87 lives.
Casualties and International Response
Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) reported that 3,530 individuals, including 1,606 civilians and 244 children, have been killed in Iran since the conflict began. Iran alleged that US and Israeli forces targeted a girls’ school near an IRGC base, killing 168 people, with around 110 being children. The US is reviewing the incident, while Israel claimed unawareness of any operations in the area.
Expert analysis confirmed that a US Tomahawk missile struck a military base adjacent to the school, BBC Verify noted.
Access for international journalists to Iran has been restricted, and internet connectivity is nearly nonexistent. On 3 April, a US F-15 jet was shot down over western Iran. The pilot was rescued, and a search operation, which faced fire, sought a second crew member. The pilot was later found, confirmed by Trump.
Escalation Beyond Iran
Iran’s attacks extended to countries hosting US military bases and allied nations such as Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, and Kuwait. Thirteen US service members were killed in these strikes. In the Gulf, at least 24 people have died, mostly security personnel and foreign workers. The UAE reported 13 deaths, including a civilian contractor in Bahrain. Kuwait logged seven fatalities, while Oman and Saudi Arabia each reported two.
In northern Iraq, a French soldier was killed by a drone at a Kurdish military base. On 25 March, seven Iraqi troops were reportedly struck in an air attack in Anbar province. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence did not specify the attacker. Meanwhile, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), formed to combat Islamic State, noted at least 27 of their members were casualties.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, four Palestinian women were killed at a beauty salon in an Iranian missile strike. Turkey claimed its NATO defenses downed three Iranian missiles over its territory. Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking an airport with drones. The US and its Arab allies criticized Iran’s actions, stating the attacks on civilians and non-military zones were unjustified.
