Iran signals ability to sustain six-month war as Gulf states face drone threats

2026-03-08 - 05:26

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the country can sustain an intense war against the US and Israel for at least six months. Iranian forces claim to have targeted more than 200 locations linked to US and Israeli bases across the Middle East. The White House expects the US–Israel campaign to achieve its objectives within four to six weeks, contrasting Iran’s timeline. Saudi Arabia intercepted at least 15 drones, while Kuwait reported missile and drone threats targeting key infrastructure. The conflict continues to widen regionally, with Israeli strikes in Lebanon killing at least 41 people amid ongoing missile and drone exchanges. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that the country is capable of sustaining an “intense war” for at least six months against the United States and Israel, signaling the possibility of a prolonged and widening regional conflict amid continuing strikes across the Middle East. In a statement carried by the official Fars news agency, an IRGC spokesman said Iran’s armed forces possess the operational capacity and resources to maintain the current pace of military operations for half a year. The statement claimed that Iranian forces have already targeted more than 200 locations across the region allegedly linked to American or Israeli bases and facilities, dw.com reports. The assertion contrasts sharply with assessments from Washington. The White House said last week it expects the joint US–Israeli campaign against Iranian capabilities to achieve its objectives within four to six weeks. Meanwhile, tensions intensified early Sunday as Gulf states reported drone attacks believed to be launched by Iran. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed at least 15 drones that had entered the kingdom’s airspace. According to Saudi officials, the drones attempted to strike the diplomatic quarter in Riyadh, a heavily secured district housing embassies and international missions. Kuwait also reported hostile aerial threats targeting key infrastructure. The attacks occurred despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issuing an apology to neighboring Arab countries on Saturday, acknowledging the impact of Iran’s retaliation campaign on regional states. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran seeks friendly relations with its neighbors but insisted the country has a legitimate right to defend itself following US–Israeli attacks. According to Tehran, its retaliatory strikes are primarily aimed at Israeli targets and US military bases across the region. However, several Gulf states have reported interceptions of missiles and drones as the conflict spreads beyond the immediate battlefield. The broader geopolitical situation remains volatile. Trump said he was not interested in negotiating a deal to end the conflict, suggesting instead that the military campaign would continue. Trump also made stark remarks about the situation in Tehran, saying he doubted there would be anyone left in the Iranian capital to declare surrender. At the same time, senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani claimed that several US soldiers had been captured during operations in the region, a claim that the US military quickly denied. Elsewhere, the conflict continues to affect other parts of the Middle East. Israel carried out airstrikes against positions linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least 41 people were killed and dozens injured in strikes in eastern Lebanon on Saturday. With missile and drone exchanges continuing and diplomatic efforts stalled, analysts warn that the region could face a prolonged period of instability if the confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel continue to escalate.