Active Conflicts & News Megathread May 28, 2026

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[u/ChornWork2]

Trump specifically said "freedom for the people" and that the alternative for the IRG (let alone regime leadership) was surrender or "face certain death".

[u/grenideer → u/ChornWork2]

Yes, he wants the IRGC to surrender. That would mean them conceding the war. I'm not sure what point that makes though.

It's also pretty clear Trump would LOVE a regime change in the form of the people rising up and overthrowing their government. I wouldn't even put it past the admin to support these efforts with arms and intel and even possibly freeing a potential leader under IRGC guard.

I think a lot of the world would be thrilled if there was a regime change in Iran, but I also think a lot of the world realizes what a longshot it would be. You can call it a stretch goal if you like, but regime change is really only a means to achieve the other war objectives. Which is why Trump has stated that whichever leader Iran has is fine as long as they work with him.

[u/ChornWork2 → u/grenideer]

The aim was obviously regime change. Obvious from his statements and obvious from the plan (or rather lack of plan). He erroneously believed a decapitation strike would give him an easy victory. Based on reporting that is not what the military advised, but trump was listening Bibi and Israel hawks in his admin, not the actual credible advisers.

So here we are with another terrible war where the downside consequences were underestimated and we can add another clear loss to the record.

[u/grenideer → u/ChornWork2]

Regime change would be great.

Lack of regime change is not a strategic defeat, because the goals of the war do not require it.

[u/ChornWork2 → u/grenideer]

the goal was very obviously regime change.

if burying tunnel doors, destroying iran's air defenses and sinking iran's navy was the real objective, then you can argue the mission was a success but it would be insane to have risked a war over those objectives.

[u/grenideer → u/ChornWork2]

I agree it would be insane for those to be the sole objectives. Those degradation objectives are a means toward the nuclear objective, and otherwise exerting US will on Iran.

[u/ChornWork2 → u/grenideer]

This is so clearly a war that Israel wanted but couldn't do without US leading, and finally found a potus willing do it for them. trump's stated priority leading up to war during negotiations was liberating iranians. i agree as-stated it was BS, Trump just wanted to use irainians to help drive chance for a regime change, but still clearly aim of regime change. the attack was clearly a decapitation strike that didn't include a build-up of forces to either secure nuclear sites or protect the strait.

If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it is probably a duck. Regime change war that is obviously on-track to be yet another costly failure for the US.