Israel says operation against Iran expected to last more than a week as regional tensions escalate

US-Israel strikes on Iran escalate war

The Israeli military has indicated that its ongoing operation against Iran is expected to continue for more than a week, stating that it aims to inflict a significant blow on the Iranian regime but cautioning that achieving its objectives will take longer than a few days, according to The Times of Israel.

Recent strikes have focused on sites associated with the Iranian leadership, as well as ballistic missile launchers and air defence systems. The military said nuclear facilities have not yet been targeted but remain among the objectives shared by Israel and the United States.

The anticipated duration of the campaign has been echoed by US President Donald Trump, who told the Daily Mail he envisages a roughly four-week operation, adding that it had “always been a four-week process”. Iranian officials have signalled preparedness for a sustained confrontation, with security chief Ali Larijani stating that Tehran had braced itself “for a long war”.

As hostilities escalated, US Central Command confirmed that four American service members have been killed since the fighting began. One of the personnel, who has not yet been identified, was wounded during Iran’s initial attacks and later died, the command said.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that Washington’s goals were strictly military and not intended to reshape Iran’s political system. “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise. No politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don’t waste time or lives,” he told a news conference.

The widening conflict has unfolded alongside dramatic developments inside Iran. Citizens have reportedly experienced a mixture of shock, grief and celebration following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a day earlier, after Israeli and US strikes triggered retaliatory action from Tehran. The strikes killed Khamenei and several senior military figures, prompting Iran to launch missiles and drones at Israel and across the Gulf.

The repercussions have rapidly spread beyond Iran. Israel carried out airstrikes on targets across Lebanon on Monday, including in Beirut, after Hezbollah fired rockets in response to Khamenei’s killing. Israeli forces said “large-scale strikes” were also continuing in central Tehran, while the US military expanded its list of targets a day earlier.

Washington stated that its attacks destroyed the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In response, Iranian forces launched missiles and drones across the region, targeting energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia.