As the war with Iran enters its second week, questions regarding its duration and resolution remain unanswered and unresolved. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have not provided specific timelines for operations, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised that the joint U.S.-Israeli operation will continue. The death tolls for the three combatant nations and soldiers and civilians across the Middle East are rising due to rising death toll and rising global oil prices. William C. Banks, a professor emeritus at Syracuse University, said that the conflict is expanding and that the Iranian government is increasing, indicating signs of escalation. He also warned against putting faith in the timelines suggested by the Trump administration. However, cybersecurity analyst Ryan McBeth believes that continued operations would continue to degrade Iran's command and control structure.