People seem to forget that Iranians were rioting in the streets in the weeks leading up to the US attacking. The Iranian government was shooting protestors and pulled the plug on the internet.

The US (well Israel) saw this as the stars aligning. Trump even called on Iranians early in the engagement to seize the opportunity.

But the ground swell didn't happen, and the US got played. Trump rolled a critical fail.

From the videos and analysis I have seen, it was Kurdish militia that was formenting the riots. The US and Israel have even admitted to arming them. They were burning and destroying infrastructure, fighting and killing legitimate protesters, and fighting governement forces. So it was a 2 way fight between the militia and government forces with innocient protesters in the middle. Not trying to cast blame or defend any side, but these protesters are not fighters or soldiers, they are kind of like gen-Z TikTokers. So to plan an entire war around this "event" is kind of crazy. But the US government doesn't care, they just needed to sell the justification and everyone bought it.

The one surest way to stop a starting revolution is for a foreigner to start murdering civilians all around.

Yes, Trump said American help is on the way and did nothing for a month, waiting regime to kill protesters.

How it could be a surprise more riots didn't happen?