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 has seen heightened conflict following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, which resulted in the death of Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on 28 February. The attacks targeted Iran’s missile systems, military installations, and leadership, sparking immediate retaliation from Iran against Israeli and U.S.-aligned nations in the Gulf. The violence quickly spread to Lebanon, with reports of increasing casualties and infrastructure damage across the region.

Iran’s IRGC claimed responsibility for launching missile and drone strikes in response, hitting sites in Tel Aviv and elsewhere. The group also accused the U.S. and Israel of unprovoked assaults, including an attack on a girls’ school near an IRGC base in southern Iran. According to Iranian claims, 168 people, including around 110 children, were killed in that strike. The U.S. said it was investigating the event, while Israel stated it was “not aware” of any operations in the area. Expert video analysis from BBC Verify confirmed a U.S. Tomahawk missile had hit a military base close to the school.

The initial U.S. and Israeli strikes focused on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which Tehran insists are peaceful, as well as oil and gas infrastructure. Key targets included Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iran’s energy exports, and South Pars, the world’s largest natural gas field. Additionally, a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka on 4 March, resulting in at least 87 fatalities.

Iran’s retaliation extended beyond its borders, with attacks on countries hosting U.S. bases and allies. Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the UAE, and Kuwait reported casualties, including 13 U.S. service members. In the Gulf, at least 24 people were killed, mostly security personnel and foreign workers. The UAE noted 13 deaths, including a civilian contractor killed in Bahrain, while Kuwait and Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain each reported two fatalities.

Conflict also reached northern Iraq, where a French soldier was killed by an Iranian drone at a Kurdish military base. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence confirmed seven soldiers were killed in an airstrike in Anbar province on 25 March, though it did not name the perpetrator. The PMF, a group formed to combat ISIS, reported 27 of its members were killed in separate attacks. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, four Palestinian women were killed at a beauty salon during an Iranian missile strike.

Meanwhile, access for international journalists to Iran has been tightly controlled, and internet connectivity has been nearly cut off. On 3 April, a U.S. F-15 jet was shot down over western Iran, with the pilot rescued and a search-and-rescue mission under fire. The crew member was found later that day, confirmed by Trump. Turkey reported that NATO air defenses had intercepted three Iranian missiles over its airspace, while Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking an airport with drones.

“The targeting of civilians and of countries not involved in the conflict is a clear violation of international law,” said a U.S. official, emphasizing the escalation of hostilities. “We are determined to hold Iran accountable for its actions.”