Iran Is at War with the U.S. But Does America Know It?

Jan. 26 2024

Gaza, however, is but one part of a much larger conflict. In December, the Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant referred to the war with Iran taking place on seven fronts—the others being Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. Seen from this perspective, it might be better to speak of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran, one which the former appears reluctant to want to acknowledge. The editors of the Washington Free Beacon write:

If the Biden administration has articulated one goal since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, it is to prevent the outbreak of a broader regional war. . . . As with so many of this administration’s foreign-policy initiatives, Iran had other ideas.

As Eli Lake details, the U.S.-Iran conflict has been going on for years, and claimed the lives of over 600 American servicemen in Iraq, and recently those of two navy SEALs in the Indian Ocean. The Free Beacon continues:

Any actual clear-eyed analysis would start and end with Iran, which has been waging a proxy war against the United States for decades. That includes during Barack Obama’s nuclear deal, when Iran took the pallets of cash it received and poured the money into its terror proxies throughout the Middle East. Now, as Iran wages a regional war, the Biden administration’s responses in Iraq and Yemen have been limited to the appendages of the Iranian hydra. To stem this conflict and prevent it from growing further, we must attack it straight on.

Read more at Washington Free Beacon

More about: Gaza War 2023, Iran, Iraq war, Israeli Security, U.S. Foreign policy

What’s Behind Hamas’s Threat to Stall the Release of Hostages, and How Israel Should Respond

Feb. 12 2025

Hamas declared yesterday that it won’t release more hostages “until further notice.” Given the timing and wording of the announcement—several days before the release was supposed to take place, and speaking of a delay rather than a halt—Ron Ben-Yishai concludes that it is a negotiating tactic, aimed at “creating a temporary crisis to gain leverage.” Therefore, writes Ben-Yishai, “Hamas may reverse its decision by Saturday.” He adds:

Israel cannot afford to concede to Hamas’s demands beyond what is already outlined in the agreement, as doing so would invite continuous extortion throughout the negotiation process, further delaying hostage releases.

The group sees the public outrage and growing calls for action following the release of hostages in severe medical condition as an opportunity to extract more concessions. These demands include not only a rapid start to negotiations on the next phase of the deal and an end to the war but also smaller, immediate benefits, particularly improved conditions for displaced Gazans.

Beyond these tactical objectives, Hamas has another goal—one that Israelis do not always recognize: inflicting psychological pain on the Israeli public. The group benefits from, and perhaps even draws strength from, the anguish and emotional distress in Israel, as well as the testimonies of freed hostages detailing the abuse they endured. Hamas wants these stories to be heard—not only to pressure the Israeli government but also because, in the eyes of its supporters, Israel’s suffering is its ultimate victory.

Read more at Ynet

More about: Gaza War 2023, Hamas, Israeli Security