United States military strategy faces challenges in Iran and Afghanistan

The United States faces recurring challenges in concluding foreign military engagements, as seen in the comparison between the conclusion of the war in Afghanistan and the current conflict in Iran. Five years after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended in defeat and significant loss of life, policymakers are grappling with similar dilemmas regarding the ongoing military involvement in Iran.

In Afghanistan, despite the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 providing a potential exit point, successive administrations extended the conflict to protect US credibility and allies. This resulted in a decade of continued fighting and further American casualties.

Currently, the Trump administration is engaged in a conflict in Iran. While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated the campaign will be short and decisive to avoid repeating the mistakes of Iraq or Afghanistan, field realities suggest otherwise. US airstrikes have failed to secure a definitive victory or ensure the unhindered passage of global oil trade through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has responded to by closing. The situation raises critical questions for US leadership regarding the difficulty of exiting long-term conflicts and the management of military defeat.