Strikes have also reportedly targeted camps linked to the KDPI and PAK. According to available information, at least five facilities near Erbil were hit. However, it remains uncertain how effective Israel’s efforts to activate proxy ground forces in western Iran will ultimately be.

Any escalation of this nature risks triggering a broader regional crisis. The consequences would likely extend beyond Iran, particularly affecting Turkey and other neighboring states. If internal unrest within Iran spreads further, the reactions of surrounding countries could complicate the situation, turning it into a multidimensional and far more volatile conflict.

During protests in Tehran against joint U.S.–Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, a demonstrator was seen holding a portrait of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Current developments suggest that the direction of this conflict will not be decided by immediate battlefield victories. Instead, it may hinge on which side can better withstand the cumulative costs and damage. The United States appears to be preparing for a prolonged and potentially deadly confrontation. Iran, meanwhile, seems to be deliberately stretching the timeline, applying calculated pressure across multiple fronts as part of a broader strategy.

Attacks on military installations in Gulf states, strikes against diplomatic targets, instability in energy markets centered around the Strait of Hormuz, and disruptions to global trade all point to a larger strategic framework. Tehran’s apparent objective is to transform a regional military clash into a crisis that directly impacts international alliances, the global economy, and domestic political landscapes.

The central issue is no longer confined to Iran alone. The conflict has exposed both the strengths and vulnerabilities of Washington’s military capabilities. A critical question now is how this confrontation may affect the United States’ long-term strategic positioning against China. An even more pressing concern is how Washington would respond if Beijing adopted a similar strategy of distributing and amplifying the economic and military costs of conflict on a much larger scale.

In this sense, the Iran crisis represents not just a regional flashpoint, but also a broader test of America’s strategic endurance.