This Time Around, Iran’s Top Leaders May Not Survive The US Bombing
ByMelik Kaylan,Contributor.
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Feb 26, 2026, 09:57am ESTFeb 26, 2026, 10:01am EST
As the US builds up military assets around Iran, the world asks will a bombing attack unfold, how soon and if so to what end. The answer to the first is likely yes. And likely after India’s Prime Minister Modi has concluded his visit to Israel in a few days. So expect the assaults to begin a week or so after. And expect them to last a good deal longer than last time. Why does the evidence indicate we are not witnessing a drill? Chiefly the amount of hardware and certain types that conclusively indicate concrete plans such as the E3 Sentries for battlefield co-ordination.
The main question is why and why now? As widespread commentary has argued, we were told that Iran’s relevant assets were neutralized in the previous round of bombings. Some have claimed that the new campaign will target chemical and biological weapons that need disposing - but objections arise to that theory. The risk to surrounding populations, for one thing. For another, you’d think such threats, if significant, were targeted the first time around. So the question remains as to why. There are several scenarios.
The reader should know I have covered the region upwards of three decades for top US news media. This column uniquely among commentators predicted, repeatedly, that during the Trump administration Russia would get to keep Ukraine while Israel would be allowed to bomb Iran. This column has a solid history of getting things right. Now let us look at the scenarios. Why would the US attack Iran at this juncture?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2026/02/26/this-time-around-irans-top-leaders-may-not-survive-the-us-bombing/
