Facing off across the vast deserts of the Middle East, Israel and Iran appeared locked in an apocalyptic confrontation as the world held its breath. And then, at the decisive moment, Israel blinked. The United States blinked. They hesitated-and called for a ceasefire.
With that, the myth of Israel’s military invincibility shattered.
Despite the full weight of the American empire, its European partners, Gulf allies, and Israel-their enforcer in the region-the attempt to bring Iran to its knees failed. Around the world, observers have noted the shifting winds of power. For all of Israel’s declarations of victory, its defeat in this round is unmistakable.
Israel initiated the conflict, launching a sudden and unprovoked assault aimed at assassinating Iranian leadership, eliminating its scientists and medical professionals, terrorising its civilian population, and toppling the regime. The ultimate objective was to erase Iran as a regional power, destroy its nuclear programme, and pave the way for a Greater Israel.
One by one, these aims have collapsed. Iran suffered heavy losses in the early days-several key leaders were killed-but the structure of its defence held. Subordinates stepped in, were eliminated, and others rose to replace them. The Iranian state remained intact. The Revolutionary Guard stood firm. The people rallied. Ayatollah Khamenei, the nation’s ideological linchpin, remained defiant and unshaken.
Instead of internal unrest, Iran witnessed rare political unity. The usual divide between moderates and hardliners seemed to dissolve in the face of foreign aggression. While some of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure sustained damage, none of it was destroyed. Its stock of 60% enriched uranium has now disappeared from international oversight. Iran has formally withdrawn from cooperation with the IAEA, signalling that nuclear deterrence is now tied directly to national survival.
Over 12 days of war, Israel was battered. Its once-vaunted Iron Dome-bolstered by US naval forces, Jordanian radar, and logistical support from European allies-could not stop Iranian missiles from raining down on Haifa and Tel Aviv. Israel came face-to-face with a chilling possibility: one more month of this, and the settler colony might have crumbled. Iran, by contrast, appeared ready to continue the war for years if necessary.
It is no surprise, then, that Israel sued for peace. But this is a pause, not an end. The spectre of war will return to the region sooner than expected. What is undeniable, however, is that in this round, Iran has won-decisively. That such a blow could be dealt to Israel and the United States in the heart of the Middle East was once unthinkable. No longer.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
