Maariv: After the US attack… Is the Middle East approaching a comprehensive regional war?
The Israeli Maariv newspaper revealed intense discussions within Israeli political and security circles about the repercussions of the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, considering the move to represent a fundamental shift in US policy, which has shifted from containment to direct military intervention.
According to Israeli analyst Anna Barsky, these strikes could open the door to a new phase of escalation in the region, as Iran’s proxies in the Middle East prepare to respond, potentially leading to wider regional confrontations.
The Israeli newspaper raises important questions regarding the extent to which the strikes will succeed in disabling Iranian nuclear facilities, particularly the stockpiles of enriched uranium with which Tehran is violating the nuclear agreement, and the extent to which this will impact Iran’s future uranium enrichment capabilities.
Geopolitically, fears are growing of Iran’s direct military responses or through its proxies deployed in the region.
Estimates indicate a state of high alert in Lebanon on the northern border with Israel, where Hezbollah currently appears to be holding back, while Lebanese authorities are trying to avoid slipping into a full-scale confrontation.
In Yemen, Houthi militias renewed their threats to target US ships in the Red Sea, while pro-Iranian Iraqi militias are showing increasing readiness to expand their operations in response to the recent strike, raising the possibility of a broader escalation in the region.
Maariv concludes its article by questioning the possibility of this escalation turning into a long-term war, the extent to which the US attack can deter Iran, or whether it will lead to a confrontation that is difficult to contain.
