London-based anti-Trump publication The Economist has surprised its liberal audience by praising the military effectiveness of the ongoing U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran, describing the operation as “a stunning operational success.”
In a detailed analysis, the outlet praised the planning, scale, and speed of the strikes, while also criticizing what it described as shifting political explanations coming from Washington.
The report’s opening example underscored the imbalance between the opposing forces.
On March 4, an Israeli Air Force F-35 shot down an Iranian Yak-130, the first Israeli air-to-air kill in more than 40 years.
The Yak-130 was designed primarily as a trainer aircraft, while the F-35 is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.
“We are punching them while they’re down,” said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, adding, “which is exactly how it should be.”
Massive Strike Campaign
According to Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, American forces struck nearly 2,000 targets in just four days of fighting.
The strikes included 17 ships, according to Cooper.
The report also noted that a U.S. submarine appears to have sunk an Iranian frigate near Sri Lankan waters, roughly 3,000 kilometers from Iran, in what would mark the first American torpedo strike since 1945.
Cooper said the opening phase of the campaign was enormous in scale.
He described the first day of operations as “nearly double the scale” of the U.S. military’s “shock and awe” campaign in Iraq in 2003.
Israel Conducting Heavy Bombing Campaign
The report said Israel’s air campaign has been even more intense, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claiming roughly 1,000 strikes per day.
That tempo has been supported by American aerial refueling tankers, which allow Israeli aircraft to remain in the air longer during missions.
According to the report, the operation began on Feb. 28, after intelligence revealed a rare opportunity to eliminate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The opening wave reportedly included long-range missiles fired from stealth aircraft and distant naval platforms.
Once Iran’s air defenses were weakened, U.S. and Israeli forces transitioned to using precision-guided bombs, which are less expensive and available in larger quantities.
“We have a nearly unlimited stockpile” of those weapons, Hegseth said.
Joint U.S.–Israel Planning
The report said Israeli officers have jokingly described the campaign as a “war in English,” reflecting the level of coordination between the two allies.
According to the analysis, the two countries divided Iran into operational zones.
Israel focused on western and central Iran, including Tehran.
The United States targeted southern Iran and the surrounding waters, operating from Jordanian bases and aircraft carriers in the region.
Campaign Unfolding in Phases
The operation has progressed through several phases.
The first stage involved the initial surprise strike.
That was followed by an intense 100-hour assault targeting key military assets.
A third phase is now underway.
Military planners say there are enough targets remaining to support four to five weeks of continued strikes.
It’s a timeline that aligns with comments previously made by President Donald Trump.
“We will now begin to expand inland,” said Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“Striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory.”
The analysis concluded that the broader military operation has largely unfolded according to plan and has significantly degraded Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones.
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