President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the US had successfully completed strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran. PHOTO/SCREEN.
The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, ignited by the assassination of key Iranian military generals and scientists, has escalated into a geopolitical maelstrom with devastating consequences.
As the war continues to unfold, particularly in the aftermath of Iranian missile strikes against major Israeli cities, it has become increasingly apparent that the traditional focus on Iran’s nuclear programme might no longer be the most pressing concern.
Instead, the US and Israel should urgently reconsider their strategies to prioritise Iran’s stockpiling of long-range ballistic missiles, a weapon system that is proving itself to be far more lethal in the short term than any nuclear threat.
The recent missile strikes launched by Iran on Israel have shattered previously held beliefs about the effectiveness of both Israel’s renowned Iron Dome missile defence system and America’s supposed technological superiority, including the vaunted B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
The images circulating on social media, posted by citizen journalists, paint a devastating picture of widespread destruction in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, cities that were once considered relatively safe from missile attacks. If these images reflect reality, then the power balance in the Middle East has shifted in a way that demands urgent attention.
Israel’s Iron Dome has long been regarded as one of the most sophisticated air defence systems in the world, capable of intercepting short-range missiles and artillery shells. The system’s effectiveness in neutralising thousands of rockets from Hamas and other militant groups has been a source of national pride for Israel and a key element in its military deterrence strategy.
However, the recent wave of Iranian missile attacks has exposed a crucial flaw in the system’s design; its inability to counter long-range ballistic missiles, especially those with high payloads or advanced decoy mechanisms.
Reports from the field suggest that Israel’s cities, long thought to be shielded from missile warfare, have been severely affected by Iranian strikes. The damage, which reportedly includes massive destruction in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, calls into question the Iron Dome’s ability to protect against a sustained missile assault.
Particularly from a nation like Iran that has developed increasingly sophisticated long-range weapons. Israel’s reliance on this technology, while not unwarranted, may have lulled its leadership into a false sense of security, leaving them vulnerable to a new kind of threat.
The US’ B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, another supposed linchpin of military dominance, is now facing similar scrutiny. This aircraft, designed to evade radar detection and deliver precision strikes with both conventional and thermonuclear payloads, has long been considered one of the most potent weapons in America’s arsenal.
However, the effectiveness of such aircraft becomes questionable when faced with a technologically savvy adversary like Iran, which has demonstrated the ability to strike Israel with remarkable accuracy and devastating force.
The notion that stealth bombers can easily neutralise threats emanating from Iran now seems increasingly tenuous, as the missile strikes have shown the inadequacy of Israel’s defences against Iran’s missile stockpiles.
These developments suggest that, in the short term, the US and Israel need to recalibrate their military priorities, shifting focus away from hypothetical nuclear threats and towards the very real and immediate danger posed by Iran’s advanced missile capabilities.
President Donald Trump briefing at the White House. PHOTO/SCREEN.
While Iran’s nuclear programme continues to be a long-term strategic concern for both the US and Israel, the present situation demands an immediate response to Iran’s missile capabilities. Iran has amassed a formidable stockpile of long-range ballistic missiles, many of which are capable of reaching Israeli territory with devastating accuracy.
These missiles are not only capable of inflicting significant damage to key infrastructure but can also target and neutralise advanced military assets such as Israel’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets, which have long been regarded as the most advanced aircraft in the region.
Iran’s missile stockpiles have been a subject of intense concern for years, and the recent strikes on Israel only serve to highlight the existential threat they pose.
The ability of Iranian missiles to strike critical Israeli targets, including military bases and airfields, could severely cripple Israel’s ability to respond effectively to any further escalation.
Moreover, the sheer scale of destruction caused by these missiles suggests that Iran’s non-nuclear missile arsenal is capable of inflicting damage far beyond what Israel or the US may have anticipated.
While the missile strikes must be addressed urgently, the long-term focus of US and Israeli strategy must continue to centre around Iran’s nuclear programme. The recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, were a clear signal that both countries are determined to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weaponisation.
However, Iran’s nuclear programme has proven to be highly resilient, and even with these strikes, there is no guarantee that Iran will abandon its ambitions to develop nuclear weapons.
The US and Israel must continue to pressure Iran diplomatically and militarily to curtail its nuclear activities, but this must be viewed as a long-term strategy rather than a short-term fix.
Iran’s nuclear aspirations are likely to persist as long as the regime remains in power, and as such, efforts to contain this threat will need to be sustained over many years.
However, in the immediate term, the destruction caused by Iran’s missile strikes underscores the need for a shift in focus towards countering Iran’s growing missile capabilities.
The Iranian missile strikes have not only destabilised Israel but also shifted the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. The Iranian government, despite suffering significant damage in the conflict, has emerged from the conflict with a renewed sense of regional significance.
With China’s Belt and Road Initiative linking Iran to the rest of the world, including nuclear-armed countries like Pakistan and Russia, Iran is now better positioned than ever to influence regional affairs.
Moreover, Iran’s allies in Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria may become more emboldened as the conflict drags on, potentially drawing the US and Israel into a larger, multi-theatre war.
The growing possibility of a wider regional conflict is a scenario that cannot be ignored, and one that necessitates a rethinking of military priorities in both the US and Israel.
The Iranian missile strikes on Israel have irrevocably altered the strategic landscape in the Middle East. While the long-term threat of Iran’s nuclear programme remains a critical concern, the immediate challenge posed by Iran’s missile stockpiles cannot be ignored.
The US and Israel must focus their short-term military priorities on countering Iran’s missile capabilities, while continuing to address the long-term threat of nuclear proliferation.
For Israel, this means investing in technologies and systems capable of countering long-range ballistic missiles, as well as bolstering their existing defences against a more sophisticated and varied missile threat.
For the US, it may mean reconsidering its military posture in the region and shifting focus away from stealth bombers and air strikes in favour of more robust anti-ballistic missile defences and stockpiling countermeasures that can mitigate the damage caused by Iran’s missile assaults.
Ultimately, the ongoing conflict highlights the complexity of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the evolving nature of warfare. If the US and Israel are to succeed in neutralising Iran’s threat, they must shift their focus to where the danger is greatest; ballistic missiles, and prepare for a long-term, multifaceted engagement that addresses both nuclear and conventional threats simultaneously.
