Top U.S. General: Iran War Would Be 'Long and Costly'

The current warnings from top U.S. General Dan Caine about a "long and costly" war with Iran come as the United States and Israel have already engaged in significant military strikes against the country. These operations have targeted Iran's leadership, security forces, nuclear program, and missile sites. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East. The United States maintains a substantial military footprint in the region, with approximately 45,000 troops stationed across more than a dozen countries, including at major air and naval bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. This presence is intended to deter Iran and its network of armed affiliates. The U.S. Central Command has identified deterring Iran as its chief "line of effort." Iran possesses one of the largest standing armies in the Middle East, with an estimated 610,000 active-duty personnel and 350,000 reservists. While its air force is considered a weaker branch, Iran has invested heavily in developing a formidable arsenal of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as a sophisticated drone program. U.S. intelligence assesses that Iran has the largest ballistic missile inventory in the Middle East. The recent escalation follows a period of heightened tensions after the Trump administration withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and initiated a "maximum pressure campaign" of sanctions. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been severed since 1980. The current military objectives stated by the U.S. include preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, destroying its missile capabilities, and eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.