U.S. and Israeli air strikes have targeted Iran since February 2026 [1], contributing to a broader escalation of conflict across the Middle East.

These operations represent a strategic effort by Washington and Jerusalem to curb Iranian regional influence and re-establish deterrence. However, the strikes have instead deepened the instability of the region, sparking a cycle of retaliation and increasing the risk of a full-scale war.

The conflict intensified rapidly during the spring. By March 25, 2026, the war had entered its 26th day [2]. During this period, Iran announced new waves of missile and drone attacks in response to the aerial campaign [2].

The violence has extended beyond Iranian borders into neighboring territories. In southern Lebanon, an Israeli strike hit a hospital, leaving nine people injured [3]. This incident highlights the expanding geographic scope of the hostilities as regional proxies and state actors engage in direct combat.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis remain stalled. Iranian officials said the country has "no intention to negotiate" [2]. While the U.S. and Iran hold divergent positions on a potential agreement, the lack of a shared framework for peace has allowed the military escalation to persist [4].

The strategic goal of the strikes was to limit Iran's ability to project power, but the resulting escalation has shifted the regional balance. The ongoing exchange of fire continues to threaten global energy markets and international security corridors.

“L'Iran n’a « pas l'intention de négocier »”

The shift from containment to direct kinetic strikes indicates a failure of traditional deterrence strategies in the Middle East. By targeting Iran directly and seeing a corresponding increase in drone and missile warfare, the U.S. and Israel have entered a high-intensity conflict phase where the threshold for escalation is significantly lowered, making accidental or intentional total war more likely.