The Briefing Room Why did the US and Israel launch a war with Iran, and what comes next?
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Mar 5, 2026 
Burcu Ozcelik, Middle East security analyst at RUSI, explains military dynamics and insurgent risks. Laurel Rapp, Chatham House US policy director, outlines Washington's shifting goals and messaging. Ali Ansari, Iranian studies scholar, assesses leadership succession and institutional resilience. Anshel Pfeffer, Israel correspondent, explores Israeli strategic aims and possible endgames. They discuss strikes, leadership targeting, proxies and the risk of wider regional fragmentation.
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Joint US Israeli Decision Created Campaign Momentum
- The US and Israel jointly initiated the campaign combining Netanyahu's long-standing push and President Trump's desire to show resolve.
- Anshel Pfeffer says Israeli concerns about Iran's ballistic capability met Trump's impulse to back protesters, creating a dual-vector war dynamic.
Protests And US Involvement Escalated Israel's Objectives
- Israel's original aim to degrade Iran's ballistic project expanded into broader goals once protests offered a perceived tipping point.
- Pfeffer notes US direct participation gave both opportunity and means to pursue far more than missile strikes.
Set Clear War Objectives Or Face Rising Costs
- Define clear objectives before or during a campaign to guide tools and endstates.
- Laurel Rapp warns the US's public ambiguity gives flexibility but risks unclear measures of success and rising costs over time.