Is the Middle East caught in an unstoppable 'escalation trap' of all-out war?

It was just a few weeks into the Israel and the  US military operations against Iran.  Iran had retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli territory; there were civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure on both sides.  But for all the bravado and swagger of the US and Israel might the Iranians survive this or has the US and Israel's military campaign against Iran spiralled into a perpetual war beyond anyone's control?This is Global Roaming looking back to the beginnings of a  deadly conflict.