Israel’s dramatic fierceness in recent weeks has changed the dynamics of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which some say could lead to World War III. However, one could also argue that the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Iran’s terror proxy Hamas invaded southern Israel, brutally murdering 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 hostages.
What has motivated Israel’s extra forcefulness now? Several factors are involved:
- Israel cannot sustain a war of attrition. Its army is primarily composed of reservists aged 22 to 45. They are patriotic and willing to fight, but they also have families, jobs and businesses to manage. Therefore, the war, which has already lasted 12 months, needs to end within the next six to 12 months.
- Because of Hezbollah’s constant firing of more than 8,500 rockets since Oct. 8, 2023, some 70,000 residents of northern Israel have become refugees in their own country.
- The land war in Lebanon needs to end before winter arrives.
- The American election period continues through Nov. 5, and it is thought that neither party can afford to criticize Israel much or deny a weapons resupply, which is needed for Israel to keep the upper hand.
- During this yearlong war of attrition, the Israeli Air Force has succeeded in eliminating 90% of the top Hezbollah leadership and perhaps 50% of the 150,000 missiles pointed at Israel.
- The Israel Defense Forces are in Southern Lebanon fighting Hezbollah and destroying the sophisticated tunnel networks built by terrorists with foreign aid and filled with weapons smuggled to attack Israel (as Hamas has done in Gaza.)
- The Israel Air Force blew up oil facilities, weapons and ports controlled by the Houthis in Yemen, which the U.S. military should have done long ago.
What is likely to happen next?
Since there is no diplomatic solution, one expects Iran’s death cult—with hundreds of thousands of terrorists outside of Iran—to be fully activated. They will not stop unless defeated. Israel and the West are now marching on to victory with support from the U.S. military and the grudging help of the Biden administration and politicians.
- In Gaza, the war is 80% complete, and the remaining terrorist leaders and 7,500 foot soldiers will be killed or captured. The remaining 100 Israeli and other hostages will be found and, hopefully, more than 25% will be alive. Arabs from northern Gaza will be pressured to move south, and not return to the north.
- In Lebanon, the war is being won, but it is far from over. Most of the remaining missile silos will be blown up, though some 20% are still firing missiles into Israel. Hopefully, 95% of those launched missiles will be intercepted by Israel’s missile-defense system, and Southern Lebanon will be cleaned out of Hezbollah terrorists. The civilian population will evacuate to the north of the country unharmed but should not be allowed to return.
- In Yemen, the ability of the Houthis to obstruct maritime traffic through the Suez Canal must end immediately. This should be done by the U.S. Navy, though Israel can and will certainly help, as it is doing now.
- In Judea and Samaria, the IDF has arrested about 5,000 Hamas and other terrorists and killed about 1,000. It is working hard to find the remaining 1,000 terrorists before they are strong enough to renew their attacks.
- In Syria and Iraq, there are more than 100,000 Shi’ite terrorists. If they try to approach Israel’s northern border, the IDF should bomb them continuously.
- In Iran, the key nuclear sites should be blown up by the U.S. military. If the U.S. military won’t do so and refuses to protect America from the existential threat of an Iranian nuclear attack, Israel will have to—saving itself, the United States, Europe and the Sunni Muslim countries. Strictly enforced snapped-back sanctions should lead to Iran’s bankruptcy within six to nine months. This, in turn, could lead to a regime change because 80% of the population wants to live in a free society and would likely rise against the corrupted 20% who believe in or financially benefit from the mullahs and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
None of these efforts will be easy, but they are unavoidable now. Within the next year, Israel will emerge as the undisputed leading power in the Middle East, and the United States could regain its position as the leader of the Free World.
