Trump mulls broader war against Iran, raising potential costs

(Originally published Feb. 23 in “What in the World“) Trump is considering a more sustained attack against Iran if an initial strike fails to unseat Tehran’s regime.

Trump is reportedly considering a limited attack to push Tehran into surrendering its nuclear program, failing which he is weighing a more sustained campaign later in the year. But Iran is no Venezuela. Bristling with air defenses and, despite efforts last year by the U.S. and Israel to eliminate them, formidable missile and drone arsenals, Iran would likely cost American casualties. It’s also possible that Iran has acquired Russian man-portable “Verba” air-defense launchers, a sort of Slavic Stinger capable of taking down low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones.

Israel, meanwhile, observed its ceasefire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah by launching new airstrikes against Hezbollah command centers in the Bekaa valley that killed 10 people. It justified the airstrikes as retaliation for Hezbollah placing missiles in the area as part of plans to attack Israel.