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Watch<\/span><\/p>\n TACO Backlash: Trump Trolled After Ceasefire, Iran Declares Victory<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The killing of Iran\u2019s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei marked an unprecedented escalation, triggering retaliatory strikes and widening the theatre of conflict.Throughout the war, Trump\u2019s stated objectives and timelines evolved significantly \u2013 from calls for regime change in Tehran to claims that US forces had \u201calready won,\u201d even as military operations continued. Officials in his administration offered differing explanations, underscoring what analysts described to the BBC as an unusually fluid and inconsistent war narrative.Here is a look at how the war unfolded, from its opening strikes to the latest ceasefire over the course of 39 days.<\/p>\nShock and awe: Decapitation strike and immediate retaliation (Feb 28 \u2013 March 3)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
The conflict began with what analysts described as a \u201cdecapitation strike.\u201d On February 28, US and Israeli forces launched coordinated attacks across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. The strikes targeted command centres, missile systems and security headquarters, with B-2 bombers, fighter jets and cruise missiles deployed in one of the most complex joint operations in recent years.Civilian casualties mounted quickly, including a deadly strike on a school \u2014 later acknowledged by US officials as a targeting error.Iran\u2019s response was immediate and expansive:<\/p>\n\n
\n- Hundreds of missiles and drones were launched at Israel and US bases across the Gulf<\/li>\n
- Targets included Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE<\/li>\n
- The Strait of Hormuz<\/keyword>, a critical global oil artery, was effectively disrupted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
This marked the transformation of a bilateral strike into a regional war within 48 hours. On March 1, the war claimed its first American casualties when an Iranian drone strike killed six US soldiers in Kuwait. <\/p>\n\n
![\"Iran](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130108523\/iran-timeline.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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<\/p>\nExpansion into a regional war theatre (March 4 \u2013 March 12)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
By early March, the conflict had widened significantly:<\/p>\n\n
\n- Hezbollah opened a northern front from Lebanon<\/li>\n
- Gulf infrastructure and shipping lanes became active targets<\/li>\n
- European powers and regional actors began defensive deployments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader on March 8, signalling regime continuity despite leadership losses.At the same time, attacks began targeting energy infrastructure:<\/p>\n\n
\n- Oil depots and refineries were hit for the first time<\/li>\n
- Iran escalated operations around the Strait of Hormuz, striking commercial vessels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
The result: oil prices surged sharply, forcing global intervention to stabilise markets. <\/p>\n\n
![\"Strait](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-130108551\/strait-of-hormuz.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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<\/p>\nEnergy war and strategic infrastructure strikes (March 13 \u2013 March 20)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Mid-March marked a decisive escalation into economic warfare.March 13 \u2013 Kharg Island strike<\/span>The US bombed Kharg Island, which handles a majority of Iran\u2019s oil exports, signalling a direct hit on Tehran\u2019s economic lifeline. March 17\u201318 \u2013 Leadership and energy targets<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n- Senior Iranian leaders, including Ali Larijani, were killed<\/li>\n
- Israel struck South Pars<\/keyword> gas field (core of Iran\u2019s gas output)<\/li>\n
- Iran retaliated by hitting Qatar\u2019s Ras Laffan LNG hub<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
This marked a clear shift: from military targets to strategic economic infrastructure, raising fears of prolonged global energy instability.<\/p>\nMulti-front escalation: Houthis, Gulf bases, and global spillover (March 21 \u2013 March 31)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
By late March, the war had expanded further:<\/p>\n\n
\n- Houthis in Yemen launched missiles at Israel<\/li>\n
- Iranian strikes injured US troops in Saudi Arabia<\/li>\n
- Shipping disruptions intensified in Hormuz<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
March 20-21: Attempted long-range strike on Diego Garcia <\/span>Around March 20\u201321, the conflict briefly expanded beyond its immediate geography when Iran reportedly launched ballistic missiles towards Diego Garcia, a key US\u2013UK military base in the Indian Ocean.According to Reuters, at least two missiles were fired:<\/p>\n\n
\n- One broke apart mid-flight<\/li>\n
- The other was intercepted by a US naval air defence system<\/li>\n
- Neither missile struck the target<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Simultaneously, diplomacy flickered. On March 23, Trump acknowledged talks with Iran \u2013 the first sign of potential de-escalation.However, this period was also marked by repeated US deadlines and threats, including ultimatums linked to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\nDirect confrontation and aerial losses (April 1 \u2013 April 5)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
The war entered a more direct and risky phase in April.On April 3, Iran shot down a US F-15E fighter jet \u2013 the first such loss in the conflict \u2013 triggering a high-risk rescue mission inside Iranian territory. The downing reflected Iran\u2019s retained military capability despite weeks of sustained bombardment.At the same time, Trump claimed the US had \u201clargely achieved\u201d its objectives but continued to authorise strikes, reflecting a widening gap between rhetoric and battlefield reality.<\/p>\nBrinkmanship and ceasefire (April 6 \u2013 April 7)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
The final days before the ceasefire were marked by extreme brinkmanship.Trump issued multiple deadlines, including a final ultimatum warning that Iran\u2019s \u201cwhole civilisation\u201d could be destroyed if Hormuz was not reopened.Hours before the deadline:<\/p>\n\n
\n- US and Israeli forces struck key infrastructure again, including transport networks<\/li>\n
- Diplomatic pressure intensified, with Pakistan mediating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
On April 7, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with Iran committing to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices fell sharply following the announcement, reflecting immediate market relief.<\/p>\nShifting estimates and rolling deadlines<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Alongside the evolving military situation, US President Donald Trump repeatedly revised both the expected duration of the war and the deadlines issued to Iran, creating a pattern of fluid timelines that became a defining feature of the conflict. In the opening days, Trump projected a relatively short campaign, telling the media that the war could last \u201cfour weeks, or less,\u201d before adjusting that estimate to \u201cfour to five weeks.\u201d Even as operations intensified, he signalled flexibility, saying the campaign would continue for \u201cwhatever it takes,\u201d and at one point emphasising that wars could be sustained with a \u201cvirtually unlimited supply\u201d of US munitions.As the conflict progressed into April, the projected timeline shifted again. In his first televised address, Trump said the US was on track to achieve its objectives \u201cshortly, very shortly,\u201d adding that \u201cover the next two to three weeks, we\u2019re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.\u201d At other moments, he struck a contradictory note, claiming the war was \u201cpretty much complete\u201d while also insisting that forces needed to \u201cfinish the job.\u201dRunning parallel to these broad estimates were a series of operational ultimatums tied largely to Iran\u2019s actions in and around the Strait of Hormuz. These deadlines were repeatedly set and then extended:<\/p>\n\n
\n- March 21: <\/strong>Trump issued an initial 48-hour warning linked to Iranian actions in the Gulf<\/li>\n
- March 23:<\/strong> The deadline was pushed back by five days as diplomatic signals emerged<\/li>\n
- March 26: <\/strong>A further extension of 10 days followed amid continued hostilities<\/li>\n
- April 4:<\/strong> A fresh 48-hour ultimatum was announced as tensions peaked again<\/li>\n
- April 7: <\/strong>A final deadline was set hours before the eventual ceasefire announcement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
According to analysts cited by BBC, while it is not unusual for wartime timelines to evolve as battlefield realities change, the frequency and range of revisions in this case stood out, reflecting both the unpredictability of the conflict and the administration\u2019s shifting assessment of its trajectory.<\/p>\nTrump\u2019s shifting war goals<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s stated objectives evolved significantly over the course of the war:Initial phase (Feb 28):<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n- Called on Iranians to overthrow their government<\/li>\n
- Framed strikes as an opportunity for regime change<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Early war (March 1\u20136):<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n- Focus shifted to destroying Iran\u2019s missile and military capabilities<\/li>\n
- Issued demand for \u201cunconditional surrender\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Mid-war (March 8\u201315):<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n- Contradictory claims: War \u201cjust beginning\u201d vs \u201cpretty much complete\u201d<\/li>\n
- Softened stance on regime change<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Late war (March end\u2013April):<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n- Emphasised nearing objectives<\/li>\n
- Focus on reopening Hormuz and stabilising region<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\nThe broader picture<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
The 39-day conflict marks the second time in under a year that Trump directly engaged US forces in a war involving Tehran. While the administration has framed the ceasefire as a success, the shifting objectives, timelines and evolving battlefield dynamics highlight the complexity of the campaign.The conflict had far-reaching consequences:<\/p>\n\n
\n- Over 3,000 deaths reported, largely in Iran and Lebanon<\/li>\n
- Millions displaced across the region<\/li>\n
- Global oil and shipping disruptions<\/li>\n
- Expansion into Lebanon and Red Sea theatres<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
As the war has deepened geopolitical divides, with domestic political backlash in the US and increased tensions across allied nations. The long-term outcomes, both in Iran and across the region, remain uncertain, even as the guns fall temporarily silent.<\/p>\nWhat next?<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
The ceasefire remains fragile, with key issues, including Iran\u2019s military capabilities, regional influence and nuclear programme, unresolved.While Trump has framed the pause as a strategic success, the war\u2019s shifting objectives, inconsistent timelines and widening scope suggest that its long-term consequences are still unfolding.As history has shown, from Vietnam to Iraq, wars rarely end on the timelines set at their outset.<\/div>\n\nSource link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A little over five weeks after it began, the United States-Israel war with Iran has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10192,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[967,25274,10831,3611,3421,25273,1163,23850,10434,25275],"class_list":["post-10191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-donald-trump","tag-gulf-news","tag-hormuz","tag-iran","tag-middle-east","tag-south-pars","tag-trump","tag-us-iran-ceasefire","tag-us-iran-war","tag-war-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.sheep-mine.ts.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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