The Rising Tensions: Shadow War Between Iran and Israel
The current warfare between Iran and Israel which can also be referred to as the shadow war has escalated over the past years as the two countries have been involved in under Commonwealth activities, hacking, and proxy conflicts. Although they are not technically at war with each other, their enmity is enacted in side battles with sweeping consequences to the stability of the Middle East as well as world peace.
The conflict was fuelled by a strong ideological and geopolitical split. Israel considers Iran as a matter of life and death, more so because of its nuclear interest and sponsoring of the terrorist groups such as the Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Iran, however, considers Israel as a regional enemy which has collaborated with the west especially the united states and has destabilized the Muslim world.
This shadow war has been characterised by counter-strike measures. Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes in Syria on Iranian targets in a bid to stop the delivery of weapons to the Hezbollah and limit the presence of the Iranian military along its border. Iran has reacted using cyberattacks and striving to reinforce its power, using allies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
All this has put the tensions at new heights of peril in the recent years with such incidences as the assassination of the Iranian nuclear scientists, explosions at the Iranian plants, and attacks of the missiles on the Israeli linked vessels. Both parties are denying and at the same time passing strong messages of deterrence.
Though there have been some diplomatic efforts such as the revival of Iran nuclear deal, mistrust is still eminent. The possibility of a large-scale war is still present but not too great. Any mistake might result in open conflict, which would force additional powers to the conflict and further destabilize this region.
The conflict between the Iran and Israel is not merely a duel between two parties, it is one of the hot spots in a volatile region it could even result in major geopolitical implications in other regions should there be no solution.