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Home / US-Israel-Iran / Will the U.S. attack Iran? Trump weighs options, floats limited strike
US‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

February 21, 2026

Will the U.S. attack Iran? Trump weighs options, floats limited strike

Even a limited strike, though, could send both nations down an escalatory path, said Jennifer Kavanagh, the director of military analysis at Defense Priorities.

“They’ve made it clear they will retaliate, and then once they retaliate, the U.S. will have to retaliate,” said Kavanagh. “Then we’re into a cycle of strikes.”

The more pressing question, Kavanagh said, is the “day after strategy.”

“There is no short, limited campaign here,” she said.

Read at USA Today

Featuring

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

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