“Willing To Die”: Former R&AW Chief Warns Of Attritional War As West Asia Conflict Enters Day 7

NEW DELHI / TEHRAN — As the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its seventh day on Friday, March 6, 2026, the conflict has transformed from a “short, sharp strike” into a brutal regional war of attrition. Former R&AW Chief Vikram Sood warned on Friday that the war may last significantly longer than Washington initially anticipated, citing a fundamental disparity in “will” between the two sides.

1. “Iranians Playing a Different Game”: Vikram Sood

Speaking to media, Sood highlighted that Iran is shifting the battlefield to target U.S. regional allies to create internal pressure on Washington.

• The Body-Bag Factor: “Iranians are willing to die, but the Americans are not willing to die,” Sood stated. He noted that while the U.S. wants to limit the war to air and missile strikes to avoid domestic political fallout from casualties, Iran is prepared for a “heroic” ground defense.
• Allied Unrest: By “knocking off” American allies in the Gulf, Sood argues Iran is successfully creating unrest and questioning the value of U.S. protection among Arab partners.

2. “To the Last Bullet”: Iran’s Unified Resistance

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh echoed this sentiment, framing the conflict as a total war for national survival following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.

• “Heroic Nationalistic Battle”: Khatibzadeh told ANI that Tehran is under constant “carpet-bombing” and has no choice but to resist to the “last soldier.”
• International Law: The minister accused the U.S. and Israel of “cherry-picking” international law while conducting an “invasion” aimed at destroying the “oldest civilization on Earth.”

3. Seventh Day of Strikes: The Regional Update

The military situation reached a fever pitch on Friday with coordinated strikes across multiple borders:

• Tehran & Beirut Under Fire: Around 50 Israeli fighter jets targeted an underground military bunker in Tehran linked to the late Supreme Leader. Simultaneously, Beirut suffered its heaviest bombardment since 2024.
• Gulf Retaliation: Iran launched waves of drones and missiles—estimated at over 1,000 drones and 200 missiles against the UAE alone since March 3—targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
• The U.S. Stance: President Donald Trump has seemingly ruled out any diplomatic exit, stating on Friday that only “unconditional surrender” from Iran would stop the offensive. He promised to help rebuild a “GREAT & ACCEPTABLE” Iran once the current leadership is toppled.

Conflict Status: West Asia War (Day 7 – March 6, 2026)