How long could the Iran-Israel war last?

A new and perilous chapter of conflict has erupted in the Middle East as hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate dramatically after a targeted Israeli bombing raid aimed at Iran's senior military leadership and key nuclear scientists. 

Initial reports suggested that the strikes were a tactical success, with the leadership of Iran's military and Revolutionary Guards reportedly killed, resulting in significant damage to Iranian air defences. Israel experienced minimal losses and did not face immediate retaliation initially. 

However, the situation took a sharp turn when Iran launched a missile barrage targeting Israel, which overwhelmed the country's Iron Dome defences. 

While the full extent of the damage from Iran's retaliatory strikes remains unclear, it signals Iran's capacity to hit back despite initial setbacks.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have indicated that their strikes will continue for "days, if not weeks," signalling a commitment to an open-ended regional war for the future, Israel's YNet News reported.

This declaration has intensified concerns about the long-term implications and the potential for regional destabilisation.

As the conflict unfolds, experts have highlighted the profound uncertainty surrounding its potential outcomes.

Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said, "We know from history the full impact of Israel's attack on Iran will take years to unfold. It could prevent an Iranian bomb or ensure one. It could destabilise the [Iranian] regime or entrench it."