Deep Dive: Israeli Defence Minister Katz says US-Israeli strikes on Iran will continue as long as necessary

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz's declaration signals a sustained military campaign against Iran, framed as a joint US-Israeli operation targeting key elements of Tehran's military apparatus, including the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful ideological force parallel to the regular army) and Basij forces. This comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Israel views Iran's nuclear ambitions, proxy militias like Hezbollah and Hamas, and ballistic missile program as existential threats. Katz's emphasis on 'heavy casualties' and overflowing morgues underscores Israel's strategy of attrition to degrade Iran's command structure and retaliatory capabilities, potentially aiming to deter further aggression following recent exchanges. From a geopolitical lens, this indefinite commitment reflects Israel's doctrine of preemption and deterrence, bolstered by US support, which has historically included intelligence sharing and munitions. Key actors include Israel seeking regional dominance and neutralization of Iran's 'axis of resistance'; Iran, whose theocratic regime relies on the IRGC for internal control and external projection; and the US, balancing alliance obligations with avoiding broader war amid domestic pressures. Culturally, Iran's Shia revolutionary identity clashes with Israel's Jewish state security paradigm, rooted in decades of hostility since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which ended pre-revolutionary alliances. Cross-border implications ripple through the oil-rich Gulf, where strikes on Tehran and nationwide targets risk disrupting energy flows via the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global markets. Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia and UAE, wary of Iranian influence, may tacitly support but fear escalation drawing in Yemen's Houthis or Iraq's Shia militias. Europe faces refugee surges and energy shocks, while Russia and China, Iran's backers, could deepen arms ties, prolonging the conflict. For global audiences, this highlights how Middle Eastern power dynamics—tied to ancient Persian-Israeli rivalries and modern proxy wars—shape international security and economics. The outlook hinges on achieving undefined 'objectives,' likely encompassing dismantled nuclear sites, weakened proxies, or regime pressure, but risks Iranian retaliation via asymmetric warfare, cyber attacks, or terrorism. This nuanced standoff preserves Israel's qualitative edge while exposing vulnerabilities to prolonged attrition, with US involvement complicating Biden-era restraint policies amid election cycles.