After decapitating the regime's leader and high-ranking officials, the aggressors engaged in a six-week physical conflict. Upon realizing that military force would not yield significant results, they opted for a "soft" ceasefire as an off-ramp. Initially established for a two-week period, the ceasefire was subsequently extended indefinitely.
However, the latter option was hindered by the inability to find a suitable Iranian delegate to initiate ceasefire negotiations. Consequently, they remained deeply entrenched in the Middle East, with no clear path toward a peaceful resolution or a viable exit strategy.