It’s been five days since Israel launched attacks on Iran and the war seems to be escalating. Hundreds of people have been killed and Israeli forces have issued an evacuation order for part of Tehran. Iran has managed to evade Israel’s defences with missiles.
The Guardian’s senior international correspondent, Julian Borger, explains to Michael Safi that Israel’s war aims seems to have changed. The first few days were marked by strikes on nuclear facilities and the killing of military officials and nuclear scientists, as Israel said it aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Now, however, it seems to have expanded into a war of attrition, with regime change a possible goal.
In the meantime, the world is holding its breath to see what Donald Trump will do. Israel launched its attacks while talks were being held by Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Will the US president join forces with Israel or strike a deal with Iran to end the war?
