Former US defense secretary Leon Panetta says the US conflict with Iran launched under President Donald Trump is likely to continue for at least another six months, with no clear end in sight. Speaking in interviews, he warns that the campaign risks turning into another “forever war” in the Middle East.
Panetta also argues that the US administration’s efforts to manage or exit the conflict could signal weakness, pointing to what he describes as turmoil within the Pentagon. In his view, the longer timeline could lead the situation to resemble past US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where outcomes and end goals took years to define.
Both outlets frame Panetta’s comments as a caution about duration and strategy rather than new operational developments. The coverage differs mainly in emphasis, with one outlet focusing on the “forever war” framing and the administration/Pentagon environment, while the other highlights the potential similarity to earlier long-running conflicts.
