The original anticipation that the U.S.–Israel attacks on Iran would be limited and conclusive has been challenged by recent developments. What we are witnessing is not a temporary regional fever but a disruption affecting ideology, territory, cyberspace, and global governance.

The conflict is transforming into a new way of warfare in a world where rules are unclear and disorder is common. It is also undermining geopolitical stability, cyberspace, climate resilience, and now food, water, and energy security. From the shadowboxing near the Natanz Nuclear Facility in Iran and the Dimona reactor in Israel to the precarious status of the Strait of Hormuz, the message is clear: instability is no longer an interruption but a new norm.

As the dust from the past days settles, hard truths and predictions have emerged about a war that is rewriting the rules of engagement. Modern conflicts no longer end with treaties or clear demarcations; they transcend them. Even if the thunder of direct missile exchanges subsides, the war is transitioning into a permanent hybrid model—a mix of deniable cyber-strikes, economic sabotage, and proxy attrition.

Realpolitik is no longer a simple chess match but has become an ideological collision. As narratives of "resistance" and "existential security" harden, the political cost of compromise for leaders in Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Washington is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Consequently, the war is now fuelled by domestic identity rather than military strategy.

The territorial sanctity of both Iran and Israel has indeed been breached, marking a transition from proxy warfare to direct conflagration. However, this shift has not resulted in a retreat or concession of strategic space. Instead, both states are engaging in paradoxical "aggressive offensive and defensive manoeuvres," attempting to restore........

© The Friday Times