US now a spectator in the Middle East

It remains to be seen if domestic political pressure could halt this US funding. International relations experts should not be surprised that Israel went on the offensive in Iran. Israel's attacks on Hezbollah in 2024 were just a precursor to the bigger prize of bringing Iran to its knees. For Netanyahu, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Middle East and shift the regional power dynamics, and he appears to care little about what the US, or the rest of the world, thinks of how he does it.

- BY NATASHA LINDSTAEDT

The Middle East is undergoing a realignment of power. With Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear sites and the assassination of at least two of Iran's senior security officials, Benjamin Netanyahu is showing his willingness to go it alone and ignore pressure from the Trump administration. Though Donald Trump sought diplomatic solutions to the growing tensions between Israel and Iran, it appears that the US president, despite his previously strong relationship with the Israeli leader, was unable to restrain Netanyahu. The timing of the strikes is important.

The Trump administration probably knew that they could not prevent Israel from striking Iran, but they did think they could pressure Israel to hold off launching an attack until after the US had solidified a new nuclear deal with Iran, talks for which were scheduled for June 15. Just hours before the air strikes, Trump said: "As long as I think there will be an agreement [with Iran], I don't want them going in." Experts had been divided in the past, over how much leverage the US held over Israel. Trump, following months of groundwork laid by the Joe Biden administration, managed to secure a ceasefire deal with Israel in January. But as part of the negotiation, Netanyahu succeeded in reversing sanctions on settlers in the West Bank, giving him free rein to act there.

Additionally, the US also lifted its freeze on the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, another concession that benefited Israel. The US also proved unwilling or incapable of stopping the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in Gaza.