The Middle East is a conflict-ridden zone and, it is equally uncertain too. The region tends to change very frequently. For example, there was a time, when Israel and the Arabs were foes, but today they are enemies. However, there is one thing constant that shows no signs of changing- the rivalry between Iran and Israel.
Israel and Iran are fierce enemies. Iran talks of wiping Israel from the world map. On the other hand, Israel talks about never letting Iran get a nuclear bomb and upping the ante against the Shi’ite nation if it doesn’t give up its nuclear ambitions. However, Israel seems to have a definitive advantage over Iran and the tide could turn in its favour. Israel is in the mood of launching a conclusive strike against Iran.
Israel v. Iran:
Both Israel and Iran have been big military powers. Israel, the only non-Muslim US ally in the Middle East, has a history of fighting big wars and defeating several enemies at one time. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) easily qualifies as the most powerful military power in the Middle East.
On the other hand, Iran has a huge military and a big naval force. More importantly, Iran has several militias and proxies spread all over the Middle East. These proxies have traditionally helped Tehran pursue its geopolitical goals throughout the region. Hezbollah and Hamas, which are backed by Iran, are entirely focused on Tehran’s goal of debilitating Israel.
Iran is weakening:
However, Tehran is now losing its stronghold on the Middle East. It is losing hope in the case of Hezbollah and Hamas, whereas Iranian militias in Iraq are also getting decimated.
This month, the Fatah Alliance, which represents the pro-Iran militia groups in Iraq that have attacked Americans in the past, secured just 20 seats in Iraq’s parliamentary election preliminary results. In the last elections, the Fatah Alliance had won 48 seats and therefore pro-Iran militias seem to be losing influence in Baghdad.
Meanwhile, Tehran is also losing faith in Hezbollah and Hamas. The situation is extremely critical as Hezbollah has faced repeated setbacks and low popularity in Lebanon, whereas Hamas is ruling over an impoverished Gaza by the power of their guns.
Hamas has bitten more than it can swallow by antagonizing both Israel and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. On the other hand, Hezbollah is getting kicked out of Lebanon due to growing hostile opinions towards the Iran-backed organisation in the country and active opposition by Israel and France. Also, the Arabs have come out backing Israel against Hamas making the Jewish nation that much more powerful.
Israel prepares itself for the conclusive assault against Iran:
Meanwhile, Israel is looking to launch one final strike against Iran that would settle things for once and for all. The Jewish nation is looking to gain an irreversible advantage over Iran as the Shi’ite nation is at its weakest.
Israel has approved a $1.5 billion budget to be used to prepare the military for a potential strike against the Iranian nuclear program. The budget looks to finance aircraft, intelligence-gathering drones and unique armaments, which would be needed for bombing the Iranian nuclear program.
Last month, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi said that Israel has “greatly accelerated” preparations for initiating action against Iran’s nuclear program. The IDF chief also revealed that “a significant chunk of the boost to the defense budget, as was recently agreed, was intended for this purpose. It’s a very complicated job, with much more intelligence, much more operational capabilities, much more armaments. We’re working on all these things.”
Israel’s plans to strike Iranian nuclear facilities is no secret. Kohavi had declared in January that the IDF was preparing fresh “operational plans” for a potent military strike. In August too, Kohavi had claimed the progress in Iran’s nuclear program had abetted the Israeli military “to speed up its operational plans,” with a fresh budget to enable such planning.
During his UN General Assembly speech, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared, “Iran’s nuclear program has hit a watershed moment, and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning… We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.”
Israel is in no mood to go slow. Iran is at its weakest and Israel feels this is the right opportunity to land a knockout punch straight into Iran’s face.