Netanyahu Insists Iran War Will Be Short as Global Crisis Deepens
March 3, 2026 (Reuters) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the joint U.S.-Israel war against Iran “is not going to take years,” even as the conflict expands across the Middle East, disrupting global travel and sending oil prices soaring.
The war erupted Saturday with strikes on Tehran that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has hit Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Gulf states hosting U.S. bases.
Netanyahu told Fox News that the campaign would be “quick and decisive,” rejecting comparisons to drawn-out regional wars.
Escalating Strikes
Explosions shook Tel Aviv Tuesday as Israeli defenses intercepted Iranian missiles.
Israel targeted Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran and Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.
Iranian drones struck the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, while Saudi defenses intercepted several more.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for a major drone and missile attack on a U.S. airbase in Bahrain.
U.S. Position
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that “the hardest hits are yet to come,” while President Donald Trump has not ruled out deploying ground forces. Washington’s stated goal is to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities without committing to a ground war.
Global Fallout
Air Travel: Gulf hubs, including Dubai International Airport, remain closed for a fourth day, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.
Oil Markets: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has halted, pushing oil prices and tanker rates to record highs.
Casualties: Hundreds of civilians have been killed across Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and neighboring states. Six U.S. service members died in retaliatory strikes.
Political Risks
Trump has framed the war as a preemptive strike against Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs, though Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons. The offensive is seen as the biggest U.S. foreign policy gamble in decades, with polls showing only one in four Americans supporting the attack.
Russia, China, and Turkey have condemned the war, while Iran’s Assembly of Experts signaled that choosing Khamenei’s successor" won't take long".
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