South Korean man rescued from drowning near Koh Racha, Phuket

[Social Media]

 

One year after the horrific attacks by Hamas, Iran's leadership continues its unyielding war against Israel, a conflict deeply rooted in Tehran’s strategic aims. October 7, 2023, will forever be remembered as a day of infamy. Comparing it to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, what Hamas did to innocent Israeli civilians stands out for its sheer barbarity, a terrorism-driven assault carried out with calculated malice.

 

Astonishingly, even a year later, many in the West have yet to fully grasp the implications of this Iran-backed atrocity. October 7 marked the launch of Iran’s "Ring of Fire" strategy against Israel, which it sees as "the little Satan." In the immediate aftermath, Iran’s supporters in the Western media and think tanks downplayed Tehran’s involvement. They referenced U.S. intelligence reports suggesting that some Iranian leaders were unaware of Hamas' plans. They also pointed out the absence of clear, direct evidence linking Tehran to the command of the Hamas terrorists. But even if these claims were true, they don’t absolve Tehran of responsibility.

 

It is unrealistic to expect that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which operates under the direct command of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would share sensitive information with anyone outside their tight inner circle. The IRGC’s Quds Force doesn’t operate like Western bureaucracies, and even Iran’s own foreign ministry or high-ranking officials might have been kept in the dark about the attack.

 

This theory gained more traction with Iran’s missile attack on Israel on October 1, 2024. Over 180 ballistic missiles were fired, a clear indicator that civilian officials were not involved in the decision-making process. As noted by journalist Thomas Friedman, citing Israeli sources, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, wasn’t informed about the strike until just before it occurred. The fact that Iran’s president was left in the dark underscores the power and influence of the hardline military faction driving these events.

 

The failure of Israeli and Western intelligence agencies to detect an Iran-to-Hamas order before the October 7 attacks was a significant oversight. But this isn’t surprising, given that no Western intelligence service foresaw the assault itself. The absence of an “execute order” is just part of a larger intelligence failure.

 

This context is essential in understanding the broader failures of the Biden administration and European governments to address the real threat—Iran. This past year has not been a Palestinian war against Israel or an Arab war against Israel. It has been an Iranian war fought through proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militant groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Yemen’s Houthis. Looming behind these groups is Iran’s nuclear weapons program, which threatens not only Israel but also the oil-rich monarchies of the Arabian Peninsula.

 

Arab states are acutely aware of the danger posed by Tehran, and many share Israel’s strategic assessment, which was the foundation of the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. While the prospect of further diplomatic progress has been stalled by the current conflict, many believe Iran’s desire to derail broader recognition of Israel was a driving factor behind its decision to initiate the “Ring of Fire” strategy.

 

One year into the conflict, Israel has made significant strides, nearly eliminating Hamas' top leadership and military capabilities, while Hezbollah faces a similar fate. However, other Iranian-backed forces, like the Houthis, remain largely unscathed, posing a continuing threat to regional security. The blame for failing to neutralize these forces falls on the U.S. and the U.K., whose inaction has allowed Iranian proxies in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen to remain active and dangerous.

 

Israel’s primary focus remains Iran itself. Following an April missile-and-drone attack, Israel's response was limited, largely due to pressure from the Biden administration. Now, however, Israel faces the decision of whether to strike Iran’s nuclear program, its oil infrastructure, military facilities, or some combination of these targets. What Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government decide could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the region.

 

Whatever Israel’s next move, one thing is clear: the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East is through regime change in Iran. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 has been the driving force behind much of the instability and violence in the region, and as long as Tehran’s mullahs remain in power, the threat of war will persist. It is time for the Iranian people to take control of their destiny and bring an end to the regime that has held them and the region hostage for far too long.

 

Based on a report from Daily Telegraph 2024-10-10