Does Netanyahu have his sights set on the entire Middle East?
Amidst escalating tensions with Iran, Israel has launched a ground offensive in Lebanon. In just 15 days, approximately 700 people have been killed, and 20% of the land in several regions has been cleared of its inhabitants; Israeli settlements are now being established there. Efforts are underway to turn the concept of ‘Greater Israel’ into reality—but what exactly is it?
‘Greater Israel’ is a concept envisioning a vast Jewish state stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. References to this concept can be found in the biblical Book of Genesis, wherein God tells Abraham that this land will be bestowed upon his descendants. In addition to modern-day Israel and Palestine, this territory encompasses Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, and a significant portion of Iraq, as well as parts of Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Discussions regarding ‘Greater Israel’ intensified following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, when Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The idea of ’Greater Israel’ remains a widely discussed topic within Israeli society today. In an interview given to a television channel in August 2024, the Israeli Prime Minister stated, “I am on a historical and spiritual mission; I am deeply committed to the dream of Greater Israel.” God appeared to Abraham in a vision and promised to establish a great nation through his descendants. Abraham’s name was subsequently changed to ‘Israel,’ and it is from this point that his future generations came to be known as ‘Israelis.’ The Israelites endured a long period of slavery in Egypt before migrating to Canaan—the region corresponding to modern-day Israel and Palestine.
There, King Solomon commissioned the construction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Following his death, the kingdom fractured into two separate entities: the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. Around 722 BCE, the Assyrian Empire launched an invasion of the Kingdom of Israel; the Temple was destroyed, and many… The Jews were forced to abandon their homeland after the state attacked Israel and Judea. The Temple was destroyed, and the Jews chose to kill one another rather than perish at the hands of the Romans. Subsequently, the majority of Jews migrated to Europe, where they were held responsible for the death of Jesus Christ. With the rise of nationalism in the 19th century, this animosity deepened even further. Witnessing the atrocities being committed against Jews worldwide, a decision was made to partition Palestine into two parts: 56% of the land was allocated to the Jewish state of Israel, while the remaining 44% was assigned to the Arab state of Palestine. Jerusalem was not granted to either nation; instead, it was declared an international zone. Israel was established on May 14, 1948; the very next day, several Arab nations launched an attack against it. During this conflict, approximately 750,000 Palestinians were displaced. On October 7, 2023, a new war erupted involving Israel. Now, on February 28, Israel—in conjunction with the United States—has launched an attack on Iran, a conflict that appears to be escalating as far as Lebanon. Many Arab nations oppose the concept of a “Greater Israel,” arguing that such a plan poses a threat to regional security in the Middle East and stands in violation of international law. As to whether a “Greater Israel” can be realized, experts suggest that, for now, it remains merely a theoretical concept. There are numerous significant obstacles standing in the way of its becoming a reality; its pursuit could exacerbate internal violence and instability, lead to increased civilian casualties, and result in a decline in international support, as nations such as the United States, European countries, and others may well oppose such a move.
Israel-US-Iran War: How is the conflict in the Middle East reaching as far as Asia? An Explainer
The events currently unfolding in Iran are having repercussions across the entire Middle East—and extending even further, to the rest of the world. Why, exactly, are so many nations being affected by the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran? Let’s try to understand this with the help of maps. The events currently unfolding in Iran are having repercussions across the entire Middle East and the wider world. To understand how so many nations have been impacted—particularly in the context of potential attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel—we must examine a few maps. First, it is essential to recognize that Iran is a vast nation; with a population of nearly 90 million, its land area is large enough to accommodate three other countries combined: France, Germany, and Spain. Precisely because of its immense size, Iran serves as a vital link connecting various parts of Asia and the Middle East—acting as a key conduit for the world’s most critical waterways, as well as for agricultural trade and general supplies. Iran shares borders with seven other nations, and its relationships with these neighbors have frequently been strained. Relations with the United States, in particular, have remained highly tense ever since the Islamic Revolution began in 1979. This revolution completely transformed Iran; the religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile and established an Islamic Republic within the country. This marked a pivotal turning point, after which Iran’s diplomatic ties deteriorated not only with its immediate neighbors but also with the United States and its close ally, Israel. The two sides subsequently became bitter adversaries. Iranian leaders have consistently denied Israel’s right to exist and have designated the United States as their primary enemy. Conversely, Israel and the U.S. have long opposed Iran’s nuclear program, asserting that Iran is actively attempting to develop a nuclear bomb. The Iranian government, however, repeatedly maintains that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful in nature and that it harbors no intentions of developing nuclear weapons. Now, let us revisit the map. The United States maintains a military presence across many of these Middle Eastern nations. Here, too, is Israel, situated approximately 1,000 kilometers away from its closest point to Iran. All of these regions fall well within the strike range of Iran’s missile capabilities—a diverse arsenal capable of covering distances ranging from a few hundred kilometers up to 3,000 kilometers. Furthermore, Iran possesses impressive drone technology, which it has effectively utilized in recent conflicts. However, Iran’s defense strategy is not limited solely to missiles and drones; ever since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has actively sought to propagate its ideology into other regions. Over time, it has extended its influence throughout this region… Iran expanded its influence by providing support to armed factions; collectively, these groups are referred to as the “Axis of Resistance.” Over time, this network of relationships grew to include Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, as well as certain factions in Iraq and the Assad regime in Syria. Israel refrained from launching systematic, long-term strikes against Iran—simply because doing so would have triggered a massive retaliation from Hezbollah, potentially unleashing its arsenal of 100,000 rockets upon Israel. However, following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Israel has significantly weakened several of these factions. Consequently, at the beginning of 2026, the regional dynamics appeared as follows—and then, this happened: The United States military initiated major combat operations against Iran to defend the American people by eliminating threats emanating from the Arabian region. Subsequently, the United States and Israel launched strikes against numerous Iranian targets and killed the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Iranian officials stated that a school was also targeted in a U.S. strike, resulting in the deaths of over 153 people, including many children. The U.S. military stated that it is investigating reports related to this incident. Iran has characterized these attacks by the U.S. and Israel as unprovoked, illegal, and unlawful. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the military actions, calling for the restoration of international peace and security. In retaliation, Iran has launched attacks against Israel and those countries in the Middle East where a U.S. military presence exists. These attacks have not been limited solely to military bases; luxury hotels, shopping malls, airports, oil-related facilities, and residential buildings have also come under fire. These actions have the potential to destabilize the region’s nascent tourism industry and erode investor confidence, thereby exerting pressure on Gulf nations—which, in turn, may pressure the U.S. to rein in Iran. Iran has previously carried out limited retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases located in the Gulf states; however, an operation on this scale has never been witnessed before, and the conflict has now spread further across the Gulf region. For instance, the Israeli military and the Iran-backed Hezbollah are currently engaged in combat in Lebanon. Meanwhile, far removed from the immediate conflict zone—in the Indian Ocean—a U.S. submarine launched a torpedo attack on an Iranian warship, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 people.
Iran has also responded to these attacks in another manner: through the Strait of Hormuz. Often referred to as a “chokepoint,” this strait is a vital artery for global trade, utilized around the clock. Its narrowest section measures a mere 39 kilometers in width. Approximately 20% of the world’s oil and gas—as well as about 30% of the global urea supply—transits through this waterway. Iran is utilizing its military forces to disrupt traffic within this maritime corridor—a tactic it has employed in the past. Furthermore, the Gulf nations rely on this very route to import food supplies and other commodities from various parts of Asia; consequently, a closure of this strait could prove economically costly for Iran as well. The cost of this—the burden of which everyone will ultimately have to bear—is already becoming apparent. Oil prices have risen, and satellite imagery clearly reveals just how drastically traffic has declined in what was once an extremely busy maritime route. There is another choke point that could impact global trade; while it does not fall under Iran’s direct control, it lies in proximity to one of its allies—the Houthis movement—which is based in Yemen. Ships traversing this route pass through the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, proceed through the Suez Canal, and eventually reach the Mediterranean Sea. The Houthis have previously launched attacks on vessels in this region; although an alternative route exists, it is significantly longer and far more costly. This alternative path involves sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. It simply depends on how long this crisis persists; should it drag on, we could very well witness significant repercussions in terms of both food security and inflation. Thus, the impact of the crisis—which originated with the attack on Iran—is now being felt across the entire region and far beyond its borders. The region did not possess much economic resilience to begin with; consequently, even if the active conflict were to cease tomorrow, the underlying tensions and instability accompanying it would not simply vanish. There remains a long road ahead in the quest to establish a form of stability that serves the interests of everyone involved.