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American flags now line the highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem alongside Israeli banners, symbolizing public gratitude for Washington's direct military role against Iran. The shift marks a dramatic escalation in regional strategy following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
From diplomacy to direct confrontation
Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's former National Security Advisor, called the joint US-Israel offensive against Iran "beyond my most utopian fantasies." Until recently, Israeli officials spent years urging American administrations merely to acknowledge Iran as a credible military threat, he noted.
Officials in Tel Aviv now describe a coordinated campaign to dismantle Iranian capabilities, with targets divided between US and Israeli forces based on their respective strengths. Yet despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assurances, the war has not delivered the decisive resolution he promised.
Expanding buffer zones and rising casualties
As President Donald Trump signals plans to wind down the Iran offensive, Israeli forces remain entrenched in Gaza and Syria. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered the seizure of southern Lebanon to create a "buffer zone" against Hezbollah, displacing 600,000 residents. Homes in border villages are being demolished, mirroring tactics used in Gaza.
Lebanon's Health Ministry reports over 1,200 deaths since Israel's latest campaign began, while Iran claims nearly 2,000 fatalities from US-Israeli strikes. Hanegbi insists Israel will continue confronting regional adversaries like Hezbollah regardless of Washington's decisions, stating, "We'll keep going, and I'm sure America won't say 'no.'"
Shifting security doctrine and political fractures
Israel's post-October 7 strategy abandoned containment in favor of preemptive strikes and territorial buffers. Netanyahu recently declared Israel had inflicted "10 plagues" on Tehran, including "deep security belts" in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. Analysts describe these zones as an "insurance policy" offering operational flexibility.
"Some see the buffers as a path to permanent occupation or border expansion-a far-right ideological goal. Others view them as temporary security measures to be removed once Israel feels safe."
Burcu Ozcelik, Middle East strategy specialist at RUSI
Unfulfilled promises and regional anxieties
Despite repeated pledges of victory, Israel's conflicts persist. Nine months after the last Iran war, Netanyahu claimed a "historic triumph" over existential threats, yet Tehran retains its uranium stockpile-enough for a dozen nuclear bombs, experts say-and continues missile strikes.
Political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin argues the wars have failed to deliver security or new alliances. "Israel's unpredictable military actions create anxiety among Arab states, which see it as a dangerous rather than reliable partner against Iran," she said.
Public support wanes as costs mount
Initial Jewish Israeli support for the war exceeded 90%, but has since dropped nearly 20 points, per the Israel Democracy Institute. Yet Netanyahu retains majority backing, partly due to a lack of alternative policies from opposition leaders, Scheindlin noted.
Hanegbi framed military action as Israel's only option: "We cannot negotiate with Iran-they don't recognize our existence. Our dialogue is through missiles."
The financial and human toll is growing. Israel's defense budget has surged to $45 billion, while reservists-many deployed five times since 2023-face burnout. Reports of refusals to serve are emerging, though no large-scale resistance has materialized.
Gaza and Lebanon: Stalemates persist
Gaza remains in limbo, with reconstruction stalled over Hamas disarmament demands and Israeli withdrawal conditions. Hezbollah's entry into the war last month reignited full-scale conflict in Lebanon, while violence in the West Bank escalates.
Netanyahu's vision of regional stability through military dominance has yet to materialize. As Scheindlin put it, "The grandiose promises of destroying Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are not coming true."
