|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/four-strategic-lessons-from-the-iran-war
Strategic Lessons from the Iran War
(National Interest) Dr. Gad Yishayahu - The war began with shock and awe: a sudden strike at the very top of Iran's power pyramid. The elimination of senior leadership in the opening hours of a war between sovereign states constitutes a rare moment in modern conflict. Dr. Ophir Falk, foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, argues in his book, Targeted Killings, Law and Counter-Terrorism Effectiveness: Does Fair Play Pay Off?, that the Iranian leaders were not only political figures, but operational architects of terror and violence against civilians, making their elimination seem less like political elimination and more like strategic prevention. In this war, U.S.-Israel military cooperation moved beyond coordination toward operational integration. One can see American officers operating within Israeli command centers without restriction, while Israeli counterparts are embedded within U.S. Central Command structures. Such integration enhances effectiveness, strengthens deterrence, and demonstrates a broader American effort to build a stronger, cohesive regional architecture. Across the Gulf, rivalries that formerly defined regional dynamics are being subordinated to immediate security demands. Qatari policy has long been built on maintaining friendly relations with Iran while also hosting U.S. forces at Al Udeid Air Base. Yet Iranian drone strikes on the Ras Laffan LNG complex have reportedly reduced Qatari production capacity by 17%, with recovery expected to take 3-5 years. The writer is a senior fellow and lead researcher at the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum.