‘Destruction is not the same as political success’: US bombing of Iran shows little evidence of endgame strategy

As US bombing operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have shown, destruction is not the same as political success.

By: Farah N. Jan, University of Pennsylvania, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 2, 2026

Words: 1,453

Last Updated: 1 week, 2 days ago

By Farah N. Jan, University of Pennsylvania

Shortly after the opening salvo of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 – with missiles targeting cities across the country, some of which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – President Donald Trump declared the objective was to destroy Iran’s military capabilities and give rise to a change in government.

Framing the operation as a war of liberation, Trump called on …

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