WHY TRUMP'S ATTACK ON IRAN A CALCULATED STRIKE AGAINST CHINA'S RISE

Israel's strategic convergence: The quest for regional dominance

- 

Concurrent with the American global strategy is the regional ambition of Israel, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the context of the 2026 strikes on Iran, Israel's objectives are both domestic and strategic.

Domestically, Netanyahu has long utilised the Iranian threat as a unifying force to maintain his coalition and remain in power amidst various legal and political challenges. By positioning himself as the only leader capable of securing Israel against an existential threat, he has effectively sidelined his opposition. However, beneath the rhetoric of national survival lies a broader strategic goal: the establishment of Israel as the undisputed Middle East superpower and the realization of a ‘Greater Israel’ not necessarily in terms of physical borders alone, but in terms of absolute regional hegemony.

Israel has skillfully leveraged the Trump administration's anti-China energy strategy to achieve its own ends. By taking cover behind the American campaign to weaken Iran, Israel has been able to conduct sustained military operations targeting the ‘Shiite Crescent’ across Syria, Lebanon, and Iran with minimal international pushback. The degradation of Iran's proxy network, including Hezbollah and the Houthis, serves both US interests (by securing Red Sea energy routes) and Israeli interests (by removing regional rivals). The concept of ‘Greater Israel’ in the 21st century involves a region where Israel's military and technological superiority allows it to dictate terms to its neighbours, ensuring that no regional power can challenge its dominance.