Israel Expects Weeks-Long War Against Iran
The conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated, with Israel expecting a weeks-long war. The primary goal of the campaign is to degrade Iran’s ballistic-missile capability, which Israel views as an existential threat.
The conflict was triggered by a coordinated U.S.-Israeli air strike campaign against Iranian strategic sites on February 28, 2026. Iran retaliated with a large-scale drone and missile attack on March 2, 2026, hitting U.S. and allied facilities in the Gulf.
Israel has prepared for a ‘general scope of weeks’ for the campaign, with no plans for a ground invasion. The Israeli military has allocated approximately 120 combat aircraft, 30 UAVs, and naval strike groups for the operation.
The U.S. is supporting the campaign with F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, as well as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group. The operation is expected to be ‘intensive, high-tempo’ with multiple sorties per day from both Israeli and U.S. platforms.