Middle East Conflict Widens as Tehran Faces Existential Threat

The unprecedented US and Israeli attack against Iran on Saturday has already surpassed previous strike-and-retaliation cycles as Tehran treats the conflict as an existential threat.

Just hours after the campaign began, Iran launched missiles at multiple locations — including Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — and threatened more against bases in Iraq as part of a bid to target US-linked facilities. Those sites can be used to project US military power, but strikes against them also demonstrate to the host countries that there is a cost for their assistance.