After two weeks of sustained airstrikes, the expectation that the Iranian regime might collapse quickly has begun to fade. Despite the scale and intensity of the aerial campaign, Iran has not shown signs of immediate political collapse. Early hopes that the leadership might flee are giving way to a more sober conclusion: this war is unlikely to be resolved rapidly.

This raises a critical strategic question: can a state as large and complex as Iran be defeated through air power alone, or would any decisive outcome ultimately require forces operating on the ground?

In theory, modern air warfare offers an appealing path to victory. Advanced fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones can penetrate deep into enemy territory and strike critical infrastructure with precision. Military bases, command centers, air defenses, and economic assets can all be targeted without deploying soldiers on the ground. With modern intelligence and precision-guided munitions, it sometimes appears possible to weaken a regime to the point of collapse without launching a........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)