Seven days into the conflict between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition, the fighting has shifted from initial high-intensity exchanges to a prolonged test of endurance, according to battlefield assessments The US-led coalition continues to leverage its air and naval dominance, conducting sustained strikes on targets in Tehran, as well as on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon
Despite this pressure, Iran has demonstrated significant asymmetric resilience. While the volume of Iranian ballistic missile launches has reportedly decreased by 80-90 per cent, its forces have achieved verified penetrations with cluster munitions on Tel Aviv Furthermore, a confirmed strike on Bahrain's BAPCO oil refinery highlights Iran's capability to inflict meaningful economic and political costs on its adversaries
The conflict is proving to be a costly engagement for the coalition. Latest estimates circulating in Washington suggest that sustaining the war effort is costing between $6-7 billion per day This transition to a war of attrition, marked by targeted Iranian strikes on strategic assets, indicates that expectations for a short military campaign have faded, replaced by a more complex, drawn-out confrontation
Yasir Rai
