US military forces have struck Iran every day for 13 consecutive nights, targeting civilian infrastructure including bridges, airports, electricity substations and drinking-water treatment facilities, according to Al Jazeera. Iran has responded by attacking civilian infrastructure in Middle Eastern countries allied with the United States, escalating an exchange that has raised concern about a wider conflict.

US President Donald Trump has warned that the conflict could be intensified further. The report says the US threat has created the risk of a large-scale Iranian retaliation, potentially pushing the entire region toward a full-scale and all-out war.

The developments have raised questions over whether the United States and Iran are heading toward another prolonged war and how their historical conflict is shaping the current situation. Boston College associate professor of sociology and international affairs Ali Kadivar discussed those issues on Al Jazeera’s UpFront program, hosted by journalist Mark Lamont Hill.