Middle East Security

Israel’s recent air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites—and Iran’s retaliatory missile launches—mark a decisive shift in the balance of power across the Middle East. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demonstrated his willingness to act unilaterally, defying even President Donald Trump’s entreaties to hold off until after planned US-backed negotiations on a new nuclear deal with Tehran.

For decades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly vowed to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions by any means necessary. Those long-held threats culminated this week in “Operation Rising Lion,” a series of coordinated airstrikes against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. While Netanyahu’s carefully cultivated reputation as “Mr. Security” may have compelled him to pull the trigger, the strikes carry profound strategic, diplomatic, and domestic risks. As rescuers sift through the rubble in Tehran and world leaders scramble for a response, the true costs of confronting Iran head-on are only beginning to surface.