By ECE OZDEMIR
The chronological beginning of the war was marked by the coordinated airstrikes launched by US and Israeli forces on strategic points in Iranian territory on the night of February 28.
These operations, codenamed “Operation Lion’s Roar” and “Operation Epic Wrath,” went down in history as one of the most extensive air offensives in modern military history.
Official statements from Washington and Tel Aviv cited Iran’s nuclear program reaching an “irreversible point” and its ballistic missile capabilities posing an “acute threat” to regional security as the primary justifications for this intervention.
In the first hours of the operation, reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei revealed that the conflict aimed not only at military destruction but also at symbolic and political devastation. With the Iranian state declaring 40 days of mourning, the tension in the region escalated into a full-fledged war.
This war has transcended being merely a confrontation between three countries, encompassing a vast geographical area. On one side is the US-Israel alliance, conducting the operation with its technological superiority and intelligence network.
This front attempts to legitimize its attacks with the rhetoric of “preventive defense” and “bringing lasting peace” to the region.
On the other side is Iran, the center of the structure called the “axis of resistance,” which claims its sovereign rights have been violated. Tehran responds to the attacks with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from its own territory and through its allies.
This defense line is actively supported by Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, and other local militia groups in the region. However, in a tragic twist of fate, countries trying to maintain neutrality have also been caught in the crossfire.
For example, Kuwait’s mistaken downing of three American warplanes by its defense systems is a bitter example proving the chaos on the ground and the high risk of “friendly fire.”
Looking at the current state of the war, the humanitarian cost has reached terrifying proportions as of March 3, 2026. The Iranian Red Crescent has reported over 550 casualties, and the attacks have spread to more than 130 cities.
Civilian and military casualties continue to be reported from the Israeli and Lebanese fronts.However, the impact of this war is not limited to the places where bombs fall. Iran’s strategic move to close the Strait of Hormuz has, so to speak, dealt a heart attack to the global economy.
The closure of this strait, the lifeline of world oil traffic, has led to a speculative explosion in energy prices, causing the effects of the war to be felt by everyone from a stockbroker in New York to a factory in Tokyo.
This is the most concrete example of how a local conflict can turn into a “global security and economic crisis.”
Today, predictions about how long the war will last are contradictory. While the US administration anticipates the operation will achieve its objectives within a few weeks, the Iranian side emphasizes that this struggle is a long-term “war of existence.”
Although Israeli defense agencies claim that Iran’s offensive capabilities have decreased, the increasing number of downed missiles indicates that the reality on the ground is far more complex.
In conclusion, the 2026 Iran-Israel/US war is not merely a military conflict; it is a major test of international law, global energy policies and human dignity. How this conflict unfolds will likely redefine regional power.