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Expert: How the US is trying to wear down Iran
🇸🇪 Sweden /Conflict & Security

Expert: How the US is trying to wear down Iran

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • The US has intensified attacks on Iran, changing tactics and weapons since the conflict began.
  • Attacks are now closer and earlier in the day, suggesting Iran's air defenses are less of a threat.
  • The US aims to neutralize remaining Iranian targets, including weapons systems and drone factories, while minimizing risks to its soldiers.

The United States has intensified its military operations against Iran, evolving its tactics and weaponry since the conflict's outset. According to Albin Aronsson, a security policy analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), recent attacks appear to be launched from closer ranges and earlier in the day. This shift suggests that Iran's air defense capabilities are no longer perceived as a significant threat. Aronsson noted that the change in strategy may also be partly due to limited ammunition for expensive long-range weapons and the US's imperative to avoid risking its soldiers' lives.

They have ensured that it has become a war on the TV screen.

— Albin AronssonAronsson, a security policy analyst at FOI, commented on the nature of the recent US attacks against Iran.

Since the US and Israel initiated their offensive in February, their primary advantage, beyond superior weaponry, has been the ability to strike from a distance. Initially, the US employed long-range missiles like Tomahawk and JASSM, along with B2 bombers, to degrade Iran's defenses. Attacks targeted radar stations and various sensors, effectively acting as Iran's "eyes and ears." The sinking of the Iranian fleet early in the conflict allowed US vessels to serve as launch platforms beyond Iranian reach. US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan have also been utilized, though Iran has responded with its own long-range weapons and drones.

The transition is partly due to having limited ammunition when it comes to long-range weapons, which are also very expensive. At the same time, the US absolutely does not want to risk its soldiers.

— Albin AronssonAronsson explained the potential reasons behind the shift in US military tactics against Iran.

Aronsson described the campaign as having gone through several phases. The initial focus was on long-range strikes. However, the recent shift towards shorter-range attacks allows for the use of less sophisticated and cheaper "dumb bombs." This includes tactical fighter jets, submarines, surface vessels, and even Patriot air defense systems deployed from land bases. The analyst highlighted that Donald Trump's political considerations prioritize avoiding American casualties, which has shaped the current tactics. The conflict has largely been confined to "TV screens," with minimal US soldier fatalities. The ongoing attacks utilize a variety of platforms, including sea-based attack drones, indicating a sustained effort to neutralize remaining Iranian military assets and production facilities.

Now they are trying to take out the remaining targets and Iranian weapons systems, drone factories, and the like.

— Albin AronssonAronsson described the current objectives of the US military operations in Iran.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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