Israel is now on a direct collision course with Iran, raising fears of a generalized conflict in the Middle East. Tehran’s response to the Israeli strike on its embassy in Damascus on April 1 was given on Saturday, first by hijacking an Israeli-owned ship in the Strait of Hormuz and then by attacking Israel with missiles and drones.
The attack was intercepted, but both sides promised to retaliate for the blow they received.
Commenting in Phileleftheros on the dramatic developments, international and geostrategic analyst Vassilis Kopsachilis pointed out that we had a convenient Iranian response, with the US having been informed in advance and wanting to close the issue as soon as possible.
“There was briefing, suspiciously and outrageously accurate briefing, enough response time, and the attacks were successfully dealt with in the vast majority of them. The Popolo in Iran was pleased and the Popolo in Israel understands that talk about till the end and other nice things are summer night dreams in the neighborhood they live in,” he said.
The US in no way wants to see the crisis escalate. The last thing Joe Biden wants, especially in an election year, is a war in the Middle East involving one of his country’s closest allies.
The question is to what extent Washington can restrain Benjamin Netanyahu’s belligerent government from retaliating against Iran, especially given that the war favors the Israeli prime minister’s staying in power.
“I think it is difficult. Israel can autonomously shape developments in the region and therefore drag the US into its choices. On the other hand, the US can warn and scold Israel but cannot afford to leave it alone. The only solution is to redesign and impose a completely new plan for the whole region. A sustainable plan. The Oslo Accords are dead,” Vassilis Kopsachilis pointed out.
However, the geostrategic analyst believes that the blows either indirectly or directly between the two sides will not stop. Perhaps with assassinations of executives, drone strikes, and micro-attacks. In other words, he said, stressing that the conflict between Israel and Iran will continue.
The crucial point is what happens if the situation derails.
“I believe that if it goes to a confrontation between the two sides, we will have a stronger reaction from the US and a reaction from China, which also loses from the escalation. So I don’t think a US-China engagement is unlikely,” he concluded. That they will keep hitting each other, either directly or indirectly, is a certainty.
