Operation Epic Fury has entered its third week; however, commentators and analysts still remain uncertain about the objectives of the American, Israeli, and transitional Iranian authorities. The central question remains: what is the intended endgame?

First, at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump himself told The New York Times in a brief interview on Sunday that the strikes could last “four or five weeks” and target Iran’s regime infrastructure, nuclear and ballistic missile-related sites, and Iranian leadership. This is more than just assertions of American and Israeli power, particularly of America’s ability to punish its enemies. The sheer volume and scope of the attacks on Iran, however, indicate that they are not primarily symbolic—that is, meant to intimidate or accomplish specific goals—but rather are intended to facilitate some larger practical........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)