Staff Reports
It appears we’ve entered week three of Operation Epic Fury, and it’s becoming another chapter in an ongoing saga of cat-and-mouse between Israel, the United States, and the Iranian regime. Israel and the U.S. seem quite determined to hammer Tehran into a form that’s less likely to cause troubles for its neighbors. Targets of these military actions include launching positions and production facilities in western Iran, which are essential for Iran’s ballistic missile capacity. There is no questioning the intent here: to drain Iran of its ability to shoot missiles and launch drones that threaten Israel and its Gulf allies.
President Trump has added a little more fuel to the discussion, declaring that Iran’s ability to fire missiles and deploy drones is dwindling fast. Apparently, they’ve been sending out fewer toys from their military arsenal, perhaps because they’re running low. Trump’s message is undoubtedly designed to maintain that classic muscular foreign policy, where the aim is to disrupt the logistics of regimes that show intentions of fostering unrest.
Despite the decrease in Iran’s outbound firepower, central and northern Israel remain on high alert, with the occasional unwelcome sound of missile sirens. In Tel Aviv, the evidence of Iranian aggression is plain to see, as the locals try to navigate their daily lives amid persistent threats. But Israel seems focused on a longer game: instead of toppling the Iranian regime outright, the goal is to undermine it such that the Iranian people might someday rise up against their leaders. A less direct approach perhaps, but clearly designed to inspire internal change without outright military escalation.
And if Iran’s antics weren’t enough, Israel also has its hands full with Hezbollah, Iran’s loyal ally in Lebanon. The Israeli military has penetrated southern Lebanon with a limited ground operation, underlining its commitment to keeping the militant group from growing too bold. News of potential additional reserve forces being called reflects the serious tone with which Israel views this threat. It could well be a calculated warning to Hezbollah, not to overestimate its standing as Iran’s regional proxy.
Adding a little dash of comedy, or irony, depending on one’s perspective, is Iran’s continued game of hide-and-seek with its uranium stash. Their foreign minister’s admission of hoarding uranium—enough for a small arsenal of nuclear weapons—feels like a scene from a spy movie gone rogue. And just when you think diplomacy might have a shot, reports flutter out suggesting they’ve buried their boon under one of their own demolished sites. Like a child hiding candy, the Iranian authorities might have thought it their ace in the hole, only to be ‘caught’ by the keen minds of international observers. Reports also suggest Iran is taking Draconian steps to control information flow within its borders, indicating an awareness that their house of cards might not withstand a thorough inspection.
