Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
World War III
October To November Of 1983
Wounded United States Marines were secured aboard a C-141 Starlifter aircraft prior to takeoff from the Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. The Marines were flown back to the United States. They had been injured in Beirut, Lebanon, as a result of the terrorist bomb attack at the barracks that housed members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon, including members of the United States military. (The photograph was produced by Robert Keffer and provided courtesy of The United States National Archives and Records Administration, October 24, 1983.)
News reports in recent weeks have indicated that the war between Iran and the United States of America – and Israel – began on February 28, 2026. Many of those same news reports have noted that the United States Congress has not issued a declaration of war against Iran.
While news reports that include a portion of that second sentence – "…the United States Congress has not issued a declaration of war against Iran" – are including a statement that is both factual and truthful, news reports that state aspects in that first sentence – "…the war between Iran and the United States of America – and Israel – began on February 28, 2026…" – are only including a factual and truthful statement if you substitute "additional battles" for the wording "the war."
Iran declared war – through its actions – against the United States of America in 1983.
Proxy allies of Iran have been active participants in this war.
Other Islamist terror groups – from cells composed of a modest number of members to nation-states – have joined Iran in this war.
April 18, 1983, was the start of the "hot" war with Iran.
When people talk about being at war with Iran for 47 years, they are usually referring to the date when Iranian "students" invaded and took control of the Embassy of the United States of America in Tehran, Iran. With that occupation, Iran kidnapped and held Americans as hostages.
While that was an act of war, there were no deaths – officially – during the occupation of that Embassy.
Please note, though, that eight members of the United States military did die in an accident while trying to rescue the hostages on April 25, 1980.
On April 18, 1983, the Embassy of the United States of America in Beirut, Lebanon, was bombed.
A proxy ally of Iran – at the direction of Iran and financed by Iran – was responsible for this bombing.
On April 18, 2023, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) issued a news statement on the anniversary of the attack in which the CIA indicated that "The Islamic Jihad Organization, which later became part of Hizballah [Hezbollah], claimed responsibility. The terrorists targeted the Embassy [of the United States of America in Beirut] in an effort to force Americans to leave the country [Lebanon]."
About six months after the attack on the Embassy of the United States of America in Beirut, there was a terrorist bombing of two barracks housing American and French members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon on October 23, 1983. Among the 307 people who died in this attack were 241 members of the American military.
The CIA includes in its "reading room" a news article from the Miami Herald dated December 7, 1986, indicating that the leaders in the United States knew that Iran ordered and funded the bombing of the Embassy of the United States of America in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 18, 1983, and the bombing of the buildings housing members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon on October 23, 1983.
The war between Iran and the United States of America did not begin on February 28, 2026.
The reality is that World War III began 43 years ago.
The United States of America has been in a state of war with Iran, its proxy allies, and other Islamist groups for 43 years.
See the PDF below to view additional photographs and details about what happened in October and November of 1983.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2026 Richard McDonough
