Iran-Israel escalation: Shift in regional military dynamics, challenging the balance of power in Middle-East

By Raqif Makhdoomi

On a night that stunned many across the world, sirens blared across Israeli cities, warning of incoming missile strikes. Buildings were damaged, civilians rushed to bunkers, and flames lit up the skyline. This time, the threat did not originate from Gaza—but from Iran. The April 2025 Iranian missile attack on Israel marked a significant moment in the broader Middle East conflict, challenging long-held perceptions of military supremacy in the region.

The Iron Dome, Israel’s missile defense system long touted as nearly impenetrable, appeared to be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the barrage. Iran’s strikes, which it described as a response to an earlier Israeli assault on its nuclear and military installations, demonstrated Tehran’s ability to project power beyond its borders—despite international sanctions and longstanding efforts to isolate it.

The geopolitical response to the strike was divided. While Western allies such as the United States and several European countries reiterated their support for Israel’s right to self-defense, others, including Russia, China, and Pakistan, expressed varying degrees of support for Iran. In parts of the world, especially among critics of Israeli policy in Gaza, there were public demonstrations applauding Iran’s action and condemning what they perceive as ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories.

The roots of the confrontation can be traced back to June 12, when Israel, citing security concerns, launched an airstrike on what it claimed were Iranian nuclear facilities. Tehran interpreted the action as an unprovoked act of war. In retaliation, it launched a coordinated missile offensive against Israeli territory, triggering a rare instance of open confrontation between the two states.

The human toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been a flashpoint. Over the past year, reports and images from Gaza have shown widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and homes. Humanitarian agencies and global rights organizations have raised concerns over the scale of devastation and the impact on Palestinian civilians. Critics of Israeli policy argue that these operations amount to collective punishment. Israel, for its part, maintains that its military actions are in response to attacks from Hamas and other militant groups operating from Gaza.

The Iranian response has reignited debate over what constitutes self-defense in international law. While Israel has repeatedly invoked its right to self-defense in conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, and now Iran, Tehran claims the same justification in responding to attacks on its territory.

The symbolic naming of the Israeli operation as “Rising Lion,” a reference to pre-revolutionary Iranian emblems, was interpreted by some analysts as an attempt to pressure Iran into abandoning its current political and ideological stance. Iran’s counterstrike was seen by its supporters as a demonstration that it remains capable of defending its sovereignty and responding to regional threats, despite being diplomatically and economically isolated.

One of the longstanding controversies surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the issue of land ownership and displacement. Palestinians assert that they have been progressively dispossessed through state policies and settler expansion, often underpinned by historical claims disputed by various parties. The debate over land rights and historical grievances continues to fuel tensions not just between Israelis and Palestinians, but also among their respective global diasporas and international supporters.

Domestically in the United States, public sentiment around involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts appears to be shifting. Recent polls suggest that a majority of Americans prefer to avoid deeper military entanglement, with bipartisan efforts in Congress aiming to limit direct military aid or involvement in any potential Israel-Iran escalation.

As the conflict develops, the international community faces renewed pressure to intervene diplomatically to prevent a broader regional war. What is evident is that the assumption of unilateral supremacy—by any side—is now being openly contested. The events of June and July 2025 have underscored the volatility of the Middle East and the urgent need for political solutions to prevent further humanitarian crises.

---

Raqif Makhdoomi is a human rights activist and law student

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

'Bengali Muslim migrant workers face crackdown in Gurgaon': Academic raises alarm

By A Representative Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

Deaths in Chhattisgarh are not just numbers – they mark a deeper democratic crisis

By Sunil Kumar For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Search This Blog