Israel escalates strikes on Iran, signals shift in strategy

DDM News

Israel has launched a highly coordinated and assertive military campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, signalling a renewed phase in the long-standing regional rivalry between the two nations.

This latest operation began four days ago and has already shifted regional dynamics.

Airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory, including in the capital Tehran, have prompted international concern and speculation about Israel’s broader strategic objectives.

According to military analysts, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have demonstrated advanced capabilities, securing aerial dominance early in the operation and penetrating Iranian intelligence systems with surprising precision.

Sources suggest Israeli air force pilots have flown missions with minimal resistance, pointing to a significant gap between Israel’s military readiness and Iran’s air defence systems.

In response to the strikes, Iran has issued public statements hinting at a willingness to return to nuclear negotiations with the United States, which it had abandoned just days earlier.

Observers interpret this shift as a sign that Israeli military pressure may have successfully weakened Tehran’s confidence and diplomatic posture.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the operation has also included political messaging from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He has made direct appeals to the Iranian people, urging them to oppose the leadership of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Such appeals, coupled with attacks on sensitive infrastructure, suggest that Israel’s goals may extend beyond halting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, possibly toward regime destabilization, despite official denials.

Historical tensions and strategic implications

Israel and Iran have been locked in a shadow war for decades, marked by cyber-attacks, proxy conflicts in Syria and Lebanon, and intelligence operations.

Iran’s support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and various militias in Syria has long been a key security concern for Israel.

Israel, in turn, views Iran’s nuclear programme as an existential threat and has consistently vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The United Nations and other global powers have repeatedly tried to broker peace or freeze nuclear development through diplomacy, often with mixed results.

While Israel’s 2021 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were widely publicized, Operation Rising Lion represents an escalation in scope and speed.

With military superiority now demonstrated and Iran appearing to retreat diplomatically, analysts say the next few days will be crucial in determining whether Israel pauses for dialogue or continues pressing for broader strategic change in the region.

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