When Will the War End? The U.S. and Israel Sing Different Tunes: One Eager to Exit, the Other Still Wants to Fight

【Global Times Special Correspondent in the U.S. Xiao Da and Wang Yi】The military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran entered their 14th day on the 13th. Following the first statement made by Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei after taking office, declaring that "revenge will not be abandoned," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held his first press conference since the outbreak of this round of conflict on the evening of the 12th local time, subtly issuing a threat to continue targeting Mojtaba. However, in stark contrast to Netanyahu's tone, U.S. President Trump has frequently hinted on social media or in interviews that the war may come to an end soon. Currently, the pressure on the U.S. military and government is increasing. A U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq, resulting in four deaths, and the USS Ford experienced a mysterious fire. An increasing number of people in the U.S., including supporters of Trump, are opposing this war. Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Larijani stated on the 12th: "Starting a war is easy, but ending it with a few tweets is not that simple. Unless you admit defeat, declare surrender, and take responsibility for compensation, we will not let you go."

New Threats from the Israeli Prime Minister

According to the Israel Times, Netanyahu held his first press conference since the attacks on Iran on the 12th. When asked what actions the Israeli military might take against Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba, he stated: "I will not purchase personal insurance for any 'terror organization' leader... I do not intend to elaborate on our plans or actions here." Regarding recent military actions against Iran, Netanyahu claimed that the Israeli military has prepared "many surprises" for this war, stating, "We will take the initiative" and "launch an attack" on Iran "with unprecedented force." However, he admitted that airstrikes may not lead to the collapse of the Iranian government.

Reuters reported that while Netanyahu was holding the press conference, alarms sounded in most areas of central Israel warning of incoming Iranian missiles. The Israel Times stated that multiple missiles flew over Tel Aviv during his speech.

Qatar's Al Jazeera reported that Netanyahu's remarks were meant to indicate that Israel's attacks on Iran "have no time limit," but Trump has recently frequently hinted that the conflict "will end soon." The Guardian reported that the differences in the demands of Trump and Netanyahu regarding this war are becoming increasingly apparent, with Trump hoping for a quick "victory" at a low cost, while Netanyahu aims to achieve a decades-long dream of overthrowing the Iranian regime with U.S. support. Because of this, even as the costs of war continue to rise, a clear final outcome remains elusive. Reports indicate that Trump previously stated that the decision to end the war would be made jointly with the Israeli Prime Minister, effectively granting Israel a veto over the end of the war. The one who truly holds the initiative may be Netanyahu, not Trump.

U.S. Central Command Busy "Debunking" Rumors

Currently, the U.S. military is encountering increasing troubles in the conflict with Iran. In recent days, U.S. Central Command has issued multiple statements to debunk rumors. On the 13th, Central Command confirmed that a U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, resulting in four deaths. Previously, the U.S. military publicly acknowledged that the conflict with Iran has led to the deaths of seven U.S. soldiers.

According to Reuters, the Iraqi militia group "Islamic Resistance Organization" claimed on the 12th to have attacked two U.S. military refueling aircraft, one of which was shot down. Iran's Mehr News Agency quoted a spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces on the 13th as saying that a U.S. refueling aircraft was hit by missiles from local militia forces in western Iraq and crashed, with all personnel on board killed.

However, the U.S. Detroit News cited a statement from U.S. Central Command on the evening of the 12th, stating that a refueling aircraft involved in U.S. military operations against Iran crashed in western Iraq, "not due to enemy fire or friendly fire," and added that rescue operations were underway, with the incident occurring in "friendly airspace."

U.S. CBS reported on the 12th that the U.S. military transported 19 injured soldiers from Saudi Arabia to Germany for treatment that day. Reports indicated that the U.S. military had previously transported about 20 soldiers injured in an attack at a U.S. military base in Kuwait to Germany for treatment. That attack resulted in six deaths on the spot. The injuries of the soldiers were classified by the military as "emergency conditions," including "traumatic brain injuries, concussions," and more.

On the 12th, another statement from U.S. Central Command indicated that a fire broke out in the main laundry room of the USS Ford, which is participating in deterrence operations against Iran in the Red Sea. The fire was quickly controlled, and two sailors received treatment for "minor injuries" and are in no life-threatening condition. Central Command emphasized that the fire "was not related to combat," and the aircraft carrier's propulsion system was undamaged, "maintaining full operational capability." The Washington Post reported that the fire on the USS Ford is the second major setback the carrier has faced recently. Two weeks ago, the carrier experienced a malfunction in its sewage system, causing about 90% of the toilets on board to be inoperable, forcing all personnel to wait for dozens of minutes to use the restroom. The recent frequent logistical failures of the USS Ford have raised widespread concerns. Some social media users sarcastically referred to the U.S. "supercarrier" as a "super joke."

The Iranian armed forces command also stated on the 13th that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy launched a coordinated missile and drone attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, causing the carrier to "lose combat capability" and withdraw from the waters near Iran. U.S. Central Command refuted this, stating that the USS Lincoln is still on mission and that Iranian missiles "did not even come close to the target." However, there is currently no evidence to show whether the USS Lincoln is still operating in the waters near Iran.

U.S. Public "Growing More Pessimistic"

The U.S. government is also facing multiple pressures domestically. CNN reported on the 12th that the American public is becoming increasingly pessimistic about this war. Among seven major polling organizations, five show that a majority of Americans oppose this war. Support for the White House among voters in the Republican core base is also declining, indicating that "the war is eroding Trump's base."

The New York Times stated that Trump had promised during his campaign not to start a war and convinced people that populism could bring a better economic outlook, but the impact of this war on the economy and people's livelihoods has made Trump guilty of double betrayal. His "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement's staunch supporters are also experiencing severe divisions. Core opinion leaders of the MAGA camp, such as Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene, along with several Republican politicians, have turned against him, openly stating they feel "betrayed" and expressing strong dissatisfaction with this war. Carlson stated that the U.S. war against Iran is "disgusting and extremely evil." Former Trump supporter Joe Rogan called for "an end to this stupid, meaningless war."

Israel's Haaretz reported on the 13th that, contrary to what Netanyahu and his ministers have promoted, Israel cannot achieve the "total victory" that these individuals dream of in the war against Iran.