Watch and Learn - How the US-Israel war with Iran got so big so fast

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What's happening here right now? Iran. Iran. Iran. Iran. Iran.

What's happening here right now Iran Iran Iran Iran Iran

Is having an impact in the Middle East and beyond.

Is having an impact in the Middle East and beyond

Oh my God.

Oh my God

To understand why so many countries are affected by the US-Israel war

with Iran, we need to look at some maps.

with Iran we need to look at some maps

The first thing you need to know about Iran is that it's enormous.

The first thing you need to know about Iran is that it's enormous

It's bigger than France, Germany and Spain combined.

It's bigger than France Germany and Spain combined

And 90 million people live there.

And 90 million people live there

Because it's so big, it links together huge parts of Asia and the Middle East.

Because it's so big it links together huge parts of Asia and the Middle East

Iran has always been seen as a kind of gateway to the east

and from the east as a gateway to the west.

and from the east as a gateway to the west

In the south is the Persian Gulf, one of the most important waterways

In the south is the Persian Gulf one of the most important waterways

for oil supplies, as well as agricultural trade and general supplies.

for oil supplies as well as agricultural trade and general supplies

Iran and seven other countries border the Gulf,

Iran and seven other countries border the Gulf

and the relationships have often been strained.

and the relationships have often been strained

Iran doesn't really have many friends in the neighbourhood.

Iran doesn't really have many friends in the neighbourhood

The relationship between Iran and the rest of the Gulf states

has been very tense ever since the revolution started in 1979.

has been very tense ever since the revolution started in 1979

The revolution changed Iran completely.

The revolution changed Iran completely

The religious leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile

The religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile

and established an Islamic republic. It was a turning point,

and established an Islamic republic It was a turning point

and not just for Iran's relationship with its neighbours in the Gulf,

and not just for Iran's relationship with its neighbours in the Gulf

but also with the US and its closest ally in the region, Israel.

but also with the US and its closest ally in the region Israel

They became arch-enemies. Iran's leaders

They became arch-enemies Iran's leaders

have consistently rejected the legitimacy of the state of Israel

and say the US is its greatest enemy.

and say the US is its greatest enemy

Israel and the US oppose Iran's nuclear programme

because they say Iran has been trying to make a nuclear bomb.

because they say Iran has been trying to make a nuclear bomb

The Iranian government has repeatedly said

its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful

and denies that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

and denies that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons

So let's look at that map again.

So let's look at that map again

The US has a military presence in all these countries across the Middle East.

The US has a military presence in all these countries across the Middle East

And here's Israel.

And here's Israel

It's only about 1000km from Iran at its closest point.

It's only about 1000km from Iran at its closest point

They're all within striking distance of Iran's missiles.

They're all within striking distance of Iran's missiles

Iran has quite an impressive missile stockpile.

Iran has quite an impressive missile stockpile

They have quite a range of missiles that are able to travel various distances

from a few hundred kilometres to a few thousand kilometres.

from a few hundred kilometres to a few thousand kilometres

It also has quite an impressive drone technology.

It also has quite an impressive drone technology

They have utilised in recent in the recent conflict.

They have utilised in recent in the recent conflict

Iran's defense strategy isn't just missiles and drones.

Iran's defense strategy isn't just missiles and drones

Since the revolution, Iran has been seeking to export its ideology.

Since the revolution Iran has been seeking to export its ideology

Through the years, it has expanded its influence in the region

Through the years it has expanded its influence in the region

by supporting a network of well-armed militias,

by supporting a network of well-armed militias

collectively called the Axis of Resistance.

collectively called the Axis of Resistance

Iran has built a forward defense mechanism

by building out these relationships with these groups.

by building out these relationships with these groups

Over time this included Hamas in Gaza,Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis

Over time this included Hamas in GazaHezbollah in Lebanon the Houthis

in Yemen, as well as groups in Iraq and the former Syrian regime.

in Yemen as well as groups in Iraq and the former Syrian regime

Always there was always this underlying logic that Israel would not carry out

systematic long term strikes against Iran,

systematic long term strikes against Iran

simply because that would trigger Hezbollah and Hezbollah

with 100000 rockets, would bear down on Israel.

with 100000 rockets would bear down on Israel

But since the war in Gaza, Israel has weakened many of these groups.

But since the war in Gaza Israel has weakened many of these groups

So that's what the relationships in the region looked like

at the beginning of 2026.

at the beginning of 2026

And then this happened. A short time ago.

And then this happened A short time ago

The United States military began major combat operations in Iran.

The United States military began major combat operations in Iran

Our objective is to defend the American people

by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.

by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime

The US and Israel hit sites across Iran

and killed the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

and killed the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iranian officials said a US strike also hit a school,

Iranian officials said a US strike also hit a school

killing more than 153 people, including many children.

killing more than 153 people including many children

The US military said it was looking into reports of the incident.

The US military said it was looking into reports of the incident

Iran called the US Israeli attacks unprovoked, illegal and illegitimate.

Iran called the US Israeli attacks unprovoked illegal and illegitimate

The Secretary-General of the UN condemned the military escalation.

The Secretary-General of the UN condemned the military escalation

We are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security.

We are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security

Iran has retaliated by striking Israel and also other countries

in the Middle East, where the US has a presence.

in the Middle East where the US has a presence

And it's not just hitting military targets.

And it's not just hitting military targets

Luxury hotels, shopping malls, airports, oil installations

Luxury hotels shopping malls airports oil installations

and apartment buildings have also been damaged.

and apartment buildings have also been damaged

They want to hit the key infrastructure in the Gulf Arab states.

They want to hit the key infrastructure in the Gulf Arab states

They want to hurt the potential tourist industry

that those states are developing,

that those states are developing

and hurt confidence of investors that are being attracted into the region.

and hurt confidence of investors that are being attracted into the region

From a strategic point of view, Iran was probably trying to use this

From a strategic point of view Iran was probably trying to use this

as a way to pressure the Gulf countries

to then pressure the US to stop bombing Iran.

to then pressure the US to stop bombing Iran

Iran has carried out limited retaliatory strikes on US bases in Gulf countries

in the past, but nothing on this scale has been seen before.

in the past but nothing on this scale has been seen before

And fighting has spread beyond the Gulf countries,

And fighting has spread beyond the Gulf countries

for example, Israel's military

for example Israel's military

and Hezbollah, the militia that Iran has been supporting for decades,

and Hezbollah the militia that Iran has been supporting for decades

are fighting in Lebanon and far outside the conflict zone in the Indian Ocean.

are fighting in Lebanon and far outside the conflict zone in the Indian Ocean

A US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship, killing at least 80 people.

A US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship killing at least 80 people

And there's another way Iran has responded to the strikes

in this bit of water. This is the Strait of Hormuz.

in this bit of water This is the Strait of Hormuz

It's what is called a choke point.

It's what is called a choke point

It's a narrow strategic route for global trade that is used 24/7.

It's a narrow strategic route for global trade that is used 24/7

This bit here is just 39km wide.

This bit here is just 39km wide

This shipping route is how we get 20% of the world's oil and gas,

This shipping route is how we get 20 of the world's oil and gas

as well as 30% of urea. That helps us make fertilizer to grow food.

as well as 30 of urea That helps us make fertilizer to grow food

Iran is using its military to disrupt traffic through the strait,

Iran is using its military to disrupt traffic through the strait

which is something they've done before. It's a very important trump card.

which is something they've done before It's a very important trump card

Shipping companies are no longer going to the Straits of Hormuz

because they're worried their tankers or their ships might get stuck.

because they're worried their tankers or their ships might get stuck

Gulf countries use this strait to import some food and products

from other parts of Asia, so closing it comes at a price for Iran too.

from other parts of Asia so closing it comes at a price for Iran too

This is something the Iranian regime has decided we're just going to have

to bear the economic cost of this bear the burden of this,

to bear the economic cost of this bear the burden of this

but we're just going to make everybody heard as a consequence of this.

but we're just going to make everybody heard as a consequence of this

And we can see the impact of that already.

And we can see the impact of that already

The price of oil has gone up. And you can see from this time lapse

The price of oil has gone up And you can see from this time lapse

how the strait was incredibly busy before and now it's not.

how the strait was incredibly busy before and now it's not

And there's another choke point that could disrupt global trade.

And there's another choke point that could disrupt global trade

It's not in Iran's control, but it's close to one

It's not in Iran's control but it's close to one

of its remaining allies, the Houthis, the militia group based in Yemen.

of its remaining allies the Houthis the militia group based in Yemen

Ships crossed the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait to go through the Suez Canal

and up into the Mediterranean Sea.

and up into the Mediterranean Sea

The Houthis have attacked ships in this region before.

The Houthis have attacked ships in this region before

And the alternative route going around the Cape of Good Hope

is longer and a lot more expensive. The Middle East and this region,

is longer and a lot more expensive The Middle East and this region

really it's a key point in the global supply chain.

really it's a key point in the global supply chain

It just depends how long this conflict is going to go on for.

It just depends how long this conflict is going to go on for

You could well see an impact in terms of food security in terms of inflation.

You could well see an impact in terms of food security in terms of inflation

So what began with strikes in Iran has had a ripple effect through the region and beyond.

So what began with strikes in Iran has had a ripple effect through the region and beyond

We're going to see Iran becoming more and more isolated

in a region where it didn't have that many friends to begin with.

in a region where it didn't have that many friends to begin with

Even if the conflict ends tomorrow,

Even if the conflict ends tomorrow

it's not going to end the tensions that come with it.

it's not going to end the tensions that come with it

There's a long road ahead in terms

of finding the stability that works for everyone.

of finding the stability that works for everyone