A War of Endurance and Will

The initial exhilaration of the dramatic opening strike that took out Ayatollah Khamenei and his top aides faded quickly as Israelis repeatedly sought shelter, sometimes in pajamas and a bathrobe in the middle of the night, or interrupting the Megillah reading, Shema, or Shemoneh Esreh, to take cover.

Ultimately, only the outcome — not the initial blow — will determine victory. If the war concludes with Iran and its proxies unable to pose a serious threat to Israel again, and Israelis can once more sleep peacefully and carry on their routines without sky scanning, most will see the price as worth paying.

However, after ten days, it’s clear there is no single knockout punch that will send Iran reeling to the canvas. Instead, it has become a test of endurance, shaped by military limitations and political will on all sides.

Unanswered questions include whether the US and Israel can eliminate Iran’s remaining ballistic missile capabilities without depleting their interceptors; whether President Trump can maintain the backing of Congressional Republicans and voters worried that victory will prove elusive while spiking gas prices are a reality; and whether Iran has any last-minute surprises up its sleeve that could extend the war by causing chaos for US troops and Israel’s homefront.