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Lessons from the War between Israel and Iran

(War on the Rocks) Bilal Y. Saab and Darren D. White - The 2025 conflict between Israel and Iran reaffirmed the centrality of alliances, psychological operations, and precision targeting, while also highlighting the evolving role of strategic deterrence and information warfare in shaping outcomes. The successful targeting of Iran's nuclear facilities proved that well-executed, pre-emptive action can yield measurable delays in adversarial weapons development. These strikes were not only militarily effective but psychologically disorienting, undermining confidence within Iran's defense establishment and signaling Israel's reach, capability, and intent. Strategic communication, public diplomacy, and psychological operations neutralized panic at home, destabilized enemy cohesion, and helped shape global narratives. Equally critical was the role of strategic partnerships. Without U.S. intelligence, missile defense assets, and military coordination, Israel would have struggled to execute a campaign of such scale and precision. Success depends on interoperability, trust, and shared strategic objectives among allies. The conflict was a glimpse into the future of warfare. It showcased the fusion of conventional and unconventional tools, the necessity of operational resilience, and the unpredictability of asymmetric threats. The real measure of success lies in whether enduring security, stability, and deterrence have been achieved or whether this was merely the opening salvo in a new era of protracted confrontation. Bilal Y. Saab is a former senior advisor for security cooperation in the U.S. Department of Defense. Darren D. White is a retired UK servicemember and a former military intelligence operator.
2025-07-17 00:00:00
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