How the US’s 'stone age' threat fits into a long history of carpet bombing
The phrase “bombing back to the Stone Age” is widely understood to describe carpet bombing, a military strategy involving the widespread destruction of infrastructure
US President Donald Trump said on 1 April that Washington could escalate its war with Iran using overwhelming force, declaring in a prime-time address: "We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks, we're going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong". He added that "discussions are ongoing," suggesting the conflict could potentially end within that period.
The remark, echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—who wrote "Back to the Stone Age" on X—revives a phrase long associated with large-scale aerial warfare and raises questions about its historical use and legal implications, reports Al Jazeera.
The comments come amid a war involving the United States, Israel and Iran that began on 28 February and has caused significant casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
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What does "stone age" refer to?
The phrase "bombing back to the Stone Age" is widely understood to describe carpet bombing, a military strategy involving the widespread destruction of infrastructure such as power grids, transport networks, communications systems and industrial facilities.
Analysts say the expression implies not only military defeat, but the dismantling of a society's ability to function in a modern way.
Has the United States used this approach?
Historians and analysts say US military campaigns have at times resembled the strategy implied by the phrase.
- During World War II, US bombing of Japanese cities killed between 240,000 and 900,000 people.
- In the Korean War, US air campaigns destroyed about 95% of North Korea's power generation and more than 80% of its buildings.
- In Vietnam, large-scale bombing extended across multiple countries, contributing to millions of casualties.
While later conflicts such as the Gulf War saw increased use of precision-guided weapons, analysts say the volume of unguided munitions meant infrastructure destruction remained extensive in practice.
How has the phrase been used politically?
US officials have repeatedly used the "Stone Age" threat as a form of coercion.
Former Secretary of State James Baker warned Iraq in 1991 that it would be bombed "back to the Stone Age" if it did not withdraw from Kuwait.
After the September 11 attacks, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said US official Richard Armitage warned that Pakistan would be "bombed back to the Stone Age" if it refused to join the US-led campaign, a phrase he recounted as a direct threat.
Trump's recent statement marks the latest use of the rhetoric during an active conflict.
What is happening in Iran now?
Since the war began on 28 February, more than 2,000 Iranians have been killed, according to the figures provided.
Thousands of civilian sites, including hospitals, schools, universities and pharmaceutical factories, have been damaged or destroyed. Reports also indicate a projectile struck near Iran's Bushehr nuclear facility, while Tehran says it has shot down two US aircraft.
What are the legal implications?
Experts in international humanitarian law say threats to destroy civilian infrastructure on a large scale could violate the rules of war.
Janina Dill, analysing Trump's remarks, said that if the threat implies destroying the structures of a modern society, "then this would be illegal because it implies directing attacks against civilian objects".
She added: "An announcement that they will nonetheless be targeted wholesale would be an announcement of systematic and serious violations of longstanding laws of war".
Dill also said: "The statement is particularly appalling since it repudiates the claim that the United States is fighting the Iranian regime, implying rather a war against the Iranian people and society more broadly".
Why does the rhetoric matter?
While the phrase is often used rhetorically, its historical associations with large-scale bombing campaigns mean it carries significant weight.
Analysts say such language can signal intent, shape perceptions of military strategy and influence how conflicts are understood internationally, particularly when used during an ongoing war.
