The Six Day War (So Far)

Summing up the war between Israel and Iran: Air supremacy, shattered red lines, and the looming Trump decision that could reshape the Middle East

As the sixth day of the Israel-Iran war unfolds, the world is waiting for Donald Trump to decide whether the United States will formally enter the fray. Though he has not ordered strikes (yet), Trump is already tweeting about demanding unconditional surrender from Tehran. In classic fashion, he’s latching onto the apparent Israeli success, suggesting that the Jewish state is acting as his proxy: after all, he gave Iran 60 days to return to talks, and as he proudly noted, this is what happened on the 61st.

What Trump wants is clear: a foreign policy win. He didn’t get one in Ukraine or Gaza. Simply bombing a single nuclear site won’t suffice. But if he can present a decisive endgame — Iran crushed militarily, or Iran accepting a deal banning nukes, missiles, and terror sponsorship — he can claim strategic victory. The IDF, meanwhile, may be nearing operational limits, and much damage has been done: parts of Iran’s state apparatus are in ruins, with security forces reportedly working out of a school gymnasium.

At this pivotal point, here’s a handy (and to some, exhaustive and exhausting!) summation of where the situation sits.