The military attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel have triggered a chain of retaliation, expanding the arena of the war. The risk of the conflict becoming protracted is only increasing. Both parties must immediately halt their attacks.

The U.S. military struck an Iranian navy frigate in the open waters of the Indian Ocean, leaving more than 80 sailors dead. The attack appears to have been aimed at devastating the Iranian navy. This marked the first time since World War II that a U.S. submarine had torpedoed an enemy vessel.

Israel has also stepped up its attacks on neighboring Lebanon. In an operation targeting the pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah, Israel launched a ground invasion in southern Lebanon and unleashed air strikes targeting areas around the presidential palace on the outskirts of the capital Beirut.

Iran, meanwhile, has also continued its retaliatory actions. It has attacked energy-related facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab states, and has also bombed the Kurdish region in neighboring Iraq. Tehran has fired ballistic missiles toward Turkey, a member of NATO.

Gulf nations have intensified their backlash, while France and Britain have decided to send an aircraft carrier and a destroyer to the Mediterranean, respectively, to ensure the security of maritime transport.

What is concerning is that the U.S. and Israel appear to be continuing their operations without an "exit strategy" in mind.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the attacks were proceeding smoothly, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also expressed a view that complete control of Iranian airspace was imminent.

However, Trump's remarks have been changing. While he initially called on the Iranian public to stand up for a regime change, he later stated that a figure from within the current regime would be more suitable if there is someone who is popular, adding that there are also "more moderate figures."

Meanwhile, the Israeli military bombed the building housing the Assembly of Experts tasked with selecting a successor to the Iranian supreme leader. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that whoever is newly appointed will be a "target for elimination," maintaining his position that a regime change is necessary.

With no shared understanding between the U.S. and Israel regarding the objectives of the war, no path to ending the fighting is visible. If retaliation continues and more countries join the conflict, ending the war will become even more difficult.

A special rapporteur for the United Nations Human Rights Council condemned the series of attacks by the U.S. and Israel as violating the U.N. Charter. The international community must increase pressure for a ceasefire.