International Relations Researcher: Two aims of war between Iran-Israel

The Israeli-Iran conflict is aggravating even with warnings of the catastrophic implications of its further spread into a regional war that can threaten the entire region as both countries possess destructive and unconventional weapons. 

Negative Paths of War

Within the past days and hours, escalation has taken increasingly dire forms as each country's civilian areas and residences have been bombarded with missiles of the other, threatening a new regional humanitarian catastrophe. The catastrophe might even extend to influence other countries in the region because both sides are clearly stating that they will target nuclear facilities, something that indicates both countries' desire to control the other and pressure it into concessions.

Foreign relations scholar and expert Dr. Tariq Wehbe believes that this war is two-dimensional, with both its war implication and its objectives for these two countries. Let us not overlook Netanyahu saying the "comprehensive war," i.e., Israel access to all Iranian political and military buildings. Therefore, targeting all sites of nuclear activities would be completely ruinous, as Israel seeks to terminate Iran's nuclear program.

The most important development in the last few hours has been a threat by the United States to come to Israel's rescue. US President Donald Trump called upon the military commanders of his country to prepare for the same. Wehbe did not rule out the same, treating the American intervention in the war as a major escalation, after its indirect support to the Israeli Air Force by providing airborne intelligence through AWACS planes and refuelling the Israeli fighter jets from US planes.

Dual Goals

Against this escalation, analysts are also looking for the actual objectives behind it. On the one hand, some are convinced that the actual intention is to destabilize the regime in preparation for its fall, while others are convinced that the intention is to "clipping Tehran's nails." But whatever is certain is that the actual reason behind this escalation is the intensifying regional competition between two hegemony- and control-based projects in the region.

Scholar Tariq Wahbe is of the belief that the primary aim is to end Iran's nuclear program. "This is what was promised, but according to the daily plan we read and the destructive rage of the Israeli forces, this destruction may extend to all military capabilities, especially ballistic missiles and drones, which have shown that Iran has fantastic and even ominous capabilities in these two areas to its enemies. And regime change? It requires, first and foremost, the finding of a replacement for this regime. Will it be the Shah's son or the so-called "Iranian Resistance," represented by the Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK)," and all the appeals to evacuate Tehran or other cities so that some American-backed opposition movements can seize first the decision-making machinery?"

A Limited War

In reference to the potential for this war escalating, Wehbe said, "I don't think that anyone wants to defend Israel or Iran. Yes, Israel, whatever is said about it, is still arrogant and not remotely interested in diplomacy that would keep it from heading into madness. And for Iran, all it has done is dominate Arab capitals through its proxies, so much so that they have rebelled against their governments on behalf of Tehran. The Gulf states, which have been victimized by verbal tensions and terrorist activity by the Houthi factions, are neutral, even calling for the two to reach a diplomatic end that would keep the specter of war away from the region."

International relations expert Tariq Wehbe concluded his remarks by saying, "I am sitting here thinking that the Republican Party hawks are piling huge pressure on President Trump to go into this war head-on. Also, if Israel does not cease its war effort, it will be bogged down by military and human exhaustion. The war will be confined to these two groups. This is where the first to surrender theory enters the picture, and Iran's surrender treaty might be stronger than Israeli bombing."

T/S

ANHA