The future of the Middle East hinges on today - The Jewish Chronicle

The Middle East stands at a crossroads. This moment of reckoning will either plunge the region into further years of bloodshed, terrorism, and devastation or lead to an era of freedom and liberation. The path forward hinges on the decisions made today, and the stakes have never been higher.

The Iranian ballistic missile assault against Israel last night may, on the surface, seem like just another event in a long chain of escalating violence that has gripped Israel and the broader region. But this is different. This strike is not merely another chapter in the war that began on October 7 with the Hamas attack. It is a wake-up call for the world and undeniable proof that Iran needs to be confronted head-on.

The regime in Tehran is not just the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, funding and arming proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and beyond. It is also racing toward the development of nuclear weapons. Now, emboldened by years of inaction by the world, Iran feels confident enough to launch direct missile strikes against Israel with impunity.

When Iran attacked Israel back in April, launching over 300 missiles and drones, 99 percent of which were intercepted, Israel’s response was restrained. It limited its retaliation to a minor target, striking a component of an S-300 surface-to-air missile battery near one of Iran’s nuclear facilities. At the time, Israeli officials explained that the goal wasn’t just to destroy the target but to send a message: by infiltrating Iranian airspace, Israel was demonstrating its ability to strike anywhere, anytime, without the ayatollahs even realising it.

But the strategy failed. Iran didn’t learn the intended lesson. The direct assault on Israel this Tuesday is clear evidence that Tehran remains undeterred. And it’s not just Israel’s strategy that has fallen short. The United States’ approach, under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, has also been ineffective. Their warnings to Iran – telling the regime “don’t” – were ignored. The ayatollahs chose to “do”, shrugging off the rhetoric from Washington as nothing more than empty threats.

This cannot continue. There is only one fitting response to Iran’s blatant aggression: a massive, decisive retaliation from both Israel and the United States. Tehran’s leadership, particularly the ayatollahs, must feel the consequences personally and unmistakably.

There are numerous potential targets in Iran. The Israeli Air Force, which recently showcased its long-range strike capabilities in Yemen, is more than capable of hitting multiple high-value targets in the country. These could include nuclear facilities, military bases, missile launchers, stockpiles, oil refineries, and power plants. Now is the time to make Iran pay for its actions, to deliver a blow that forces the regime to reconsider its current course of action.

Ideally, it shouldn’t fall solely on Israel to carry out such a strike. The Iranians act with impunity because they believe there will never be consequences. Tehran is convinced it can sow terror and destruction across the region without fear of reprisal from global powers. They believe leaders like Biden, Keir Starmer, and others in the West will never be decisive enough to stop them.

But Biden now has a chance to rewrite history. As he approaches the end of his time in the White House, he must think about the legacy he will leave behind. Iran has long viewed the United States as weak and not willing to confront it militarily. Now is the time for Biden to prove them wrong. A forceful, direct response against Iran is the only way to halt its aggression and set the region on a path toward stability.

This is the moment for action. Iran’s unchecked hostility must end, and the time to stop it is now.

Topics:

Israel

Iran

Attack