The United States and Israel have intensified their attacks on Iran — but what exactly is the endgame?

In this special edition of Bigger Than Five, retired US Major General Randy Manner, a former deputy commanding general of the US Armed forces in the Middle East, says the objectives of the offensive are unclear. 

He calls the conflict “absolutely a war of choice,” arguing there is “no clear and present danger to the United States from Iran”.

Manner dismisses talk of forcing Tehran into submission as “extremely naive”, he also warns the war risks backfiring strategically for Washington, saying “we are losing friends in the region, and we are losing friends in Europe”. 

As the objectives keep shifting — from nuclear threats, to defending Israel and regime change — the bigger question remains: what exactly is the United States fighting for?