Israel and Iran, both nations have engaged in a conflict that is hidden. They used spies, secret attacks, and allies to avoid prominently and directly addressing the current condition of the Middle East, showing that this shadow war has shifted to open, visible attacks. Recently Iran targeted Israel through missiles, and in response Israel carried out major airstrikes on Iran. These actions show that both nations are now ready to continue war openly. This highly tense situation ignited after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Though this isn’t a full-scale regional war yet, the risks of one breaking out are higher, raising serious concerns across the Middle East. This shift highlights that the battle between Israel and Iran will become normal in the future. This could negatively impact the region’s stability and threaten peace. Furthermore, these growing conflicts are a serious concern for neighboring nations.
After the Islamic revolution in 1973, Iran became te great supporter of Palestine and criticized Israel. This support formed an axis of rotation with different groups. It includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza. All of these of Iran’s allies created a ring of fire against Israel.
Hamas’ attack on Israel compelled Benjamin Netanyahu to enhance military actions against Gaza and all of its supporters, such as Iran. Israel targeted Israel on April 1 and killed two generals. After this attack, it was explored that this attack was already planned. In order to take revenge, Iran attacked Israel on 13 April, breaking a long-standing taboo.
Tensions have grown further after the murder of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The death of these two major people was a great shock for Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was especially angered by Nasrallah’s death. This incident forced Iran to take retaliation from Israel and the nation’s larger military response on 1 October, escalating the conflict further.
Israel responded to this attack after weeks of uncertainty about its future actions. Different Israeli leaders have different stances about how to take revenge. Some wanted to target Iran’s nuclear sites, while others had a desire to follow the cautious approach and target its leaders.
In the end, Israel decided to target Iran’s military bases and avoid harming civilians. This decision by Israel seems like the success of the United States’ diplomacy. As president, Joe Biden wants Israel not to respond in such a way that makes the situation worse. He even sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to make this point in Jerusalem.
This time Netanyahu listened the Joe Biden’s advice, and that made the situation better. So it seems that Biden succeeded this time. However, Netanyahu said that if Iran strikes back at Israel, then the nation considers the option of attacking Iran’s nuclear strikes. Iran’s damaged air defenses may also have trouble stopping future attacks, making it more vulnerable.
In light of the escalating Middle East tensions, the Pentagon has explicitly warned Iran against reprisal. Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian threats, according to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who reaffirmed this message. To prevent further escalation, he further advised all sides to use moderation. The Biden administration is keen to defuse the issue as the U.S. presidential election draws near, stressing that the recent Israeli attacks did not involve American personnel.
At the moment, Iran seems to be paying attention to these cautions and has decided against a strong reaction at this time. Hardliners in Tehran, though, might advocate for a more forceful reaction. The failures of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to mediate a truce demonstrate that the underlying problems that are causing this violence remain unresolved.
Meanwhile, the media mostly ignores the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel and Iran run the risk of starting a new, more deadly confrontation that might destabilize the entire region unless the Palestinian crisis is resolved. Urgent diplomatic action is required in this scenario to stop additional misery and violence.
