The unprecedented US and Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday has already surpassed previous cycles of strikes and retaliation as Tehran sees the conflict as an existential threat.
This is the story by Bloomberg reporters.
Just hours after the campaign began, Iran launched missiles at several locations, including Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, and threatened attacks on bases in Iraq in an attempt to target US-related targets.
These targets can be used to demonstrate US military power, but striking them also demonstrates to countries that their assistance comes at a price
President Donald Trump's stated goal of eliminating the threat posed by Iran and encouraging its people to overthrow the government means there is little incentive for the leadership in Tehran to hold back.
According to a person familiar with the matter, US-Israeli strikes have already targeted senior officials and air defense assets, as well as missile sites that could hit the Persian Gulf.
"They’re going to launch everything they have at every target possible," said William Alberque, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, a foreign policy research institute, of Iran's expected response.
So far, public reports indicate that the United States and Israel have used only long-range weapons, such as cruise missiles. This limits the risk to American and Israeli pilots, especially during the day.
While the air campaign may not lead to regime change - there is no precedent for toppling a government solely through air power - intelligence operations may have targeted key commanders in Iran alongside the attacks. The idea is to convince them not only that the fight is futile, but also that they can fill the power vacuum.
Alberque said the US and Israel are likely talking to officials in the Defense Ministry, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other agencies, "trying to get them to defect, stay home."
"Today would be a good day not to go into work," he said.
Iran could use anti-ship weapons to attack commercial and military vessels in the Persian Gulf, although no such activity has been reported so far. Tehran has hundreds of cruise missiles for this task, as well as small missile boats and submarines.
However, the US Navy has a huge advantage in firepower. Although it has not faced a concerted attack on its fleet in decades, it should have little trouble withstanding direct threats at sea.
"As Iran’s military and civilian leaders continue to face pressure, the scale of the conflict could continue to widen," said Peter Layton of the Griffith Asia Institute in Australia.
"The Iranians will soon run out of missiles and missile launchers," said Layton. "Israel and the US will keep bombing until the regime falls. I think both are now trapped in endless bombing until one or both lose interest."
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