President Trump laid out his aims for the Iran war in an eight-minute video that he released on Feb. 28 just hours after joining with Israel to carry out the first strikes. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” he said.
Here is an assessment of where the war stands now based on the goals he described in that video.
1. “We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated.”
The U.S. and Israeli militaries have destroyed many of Iran’s ballistic missiles and launchers in airstrikes. But a large number are undamaged, and Iran continues to fire missiles in the region. In addition, it is using attack drones. The United States and Israel have decimated many Iranian factories that produce missiles.
2. “We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
The two militaries have destroyed much of Iran’s navy. A notable attack took place near Sri Lanka in early March, when a U.S. submarine fired torpedoes to sink an Iranian destroyer, the IRIS Dena, which had a crew of 180 people. Initial reports said at least 80 people were killed. The ship had taken part in naval exercises in India and was on its way home. The United States had participated in the same exercises.