Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confident that the campaign to eliminate Iran will be swift and decisive. He revealed, "It may take some time, but it will not last for years, and it is not an endless war," as the conflict entered its fourth day amid widening tensions, with Iran retaliating by striking US bases in Riyadh and Bahrain.
Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview on Fox News's "Hannity" program last Monday (2 Mar), expressing confidence that the war between the US-Israel alliance and Iran will not drag on for years like previous regional conflicts.
Netanyahu said, "I have said it will be quick and decisive. It may take some time, but it will not drag on for years. This is not a war without end." Although former President Donald Trump had estimated the conflict would last 4-5 weeks, there are signs the scope of attacks is expanding indefinitely. The fighting has also spread to Lebanon, with Israel striking Hezbollah targets.
On 3 March, Tel Aviv was shaken by explosions from Iran's intercepted missiles, while the Israeli military launched attacks on Iranian government TV buildings in Tehran and Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the success of "Operation Promise of the Truth 4," stating they deployed 20 drones and 3 missiles to destroy the main command center of the US Air Force base in Bahrain. Reports also indicated Iranian drones attacked the US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing fires.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the US military still has "powerful measures" to strike Iran more heavily. He noted that while the primary objective is to destroy Iran's missile capabilities without deploying ground troops, President Trump has not ruled out sending infantry forces to the Middle East.
This war has severely impacted the global economy after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking one-fifth of the world's oil shipping routes, causing oil prices and shipping rates to soar to historic highs.
Meanwhile, Dubai Airport, the world's busiest aviation hub, has been closed for the fourth consecutive day, stranding tens of thousands of passengers. The world faces its biggest aviation crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, six US soldiers have died in Kuwait, while the US military has destroyed over 1,250 targets in Iran.
President Trump claimed the strikes aim to halt Iran's nuclear and missile programs amid criticism from Russia, China, and Turkey, who jointly condemned the war. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only one in four Americans support the attacks on Iran, posing a major political risk for the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
/sourceReuters