Iran’s Strategic Success in Recent Conflict
Iran’s strategy in the recent conflict seems to have been successful, as it has achieved numerous objectives. Iran has coordinated attacks on Israel through proxies such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, mobilized pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria, and negotiated the release of Thai workers in Gaza. It also plans to expand the operations of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and increase support for Hamas in the West Bank.
Iran’s leaders claim that Hamas was able to force Israel to agree to a ceasefire, which they see as a sign of their success. They also criticize the West for its hypocritical commitments to human rights. These statements were made to various audiences, including nursing students and judiciary officials, indicating Iran’s efforts to showcase its military capabilities and alliances.
Despite these claims of success, the actual impact of Iran’s actions is less clear. Attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have had limited effect, and Hezbollah’s attacks have led to evacuations in Israel without achieving substantial results. The Houthi attacks have also not been particularly impactful.
Overall, Iran has been able to operate through its proxies with impunity, but the proxies themselves have been cautious and pragmatic in their actions. The future actions of Iran in the event of a resumption of hostilities remain uncertain, as the recent conflict has been different from previous ones. Iran will need to reconsider its strategy if the ceasefire ends and fighting resumes.
