Israel-Iran Confrontation

Tehran's spies and generals built an impressive network of eyes and ears from Mount Lebanon to the Hindu Kush. In a game of cat-and-mouse, they always seemed two moves ahead. Not so now.

Tehran's military support to Moscow could be disrupted the longer the war drags out

After less than two weeks, the estimated cost of warfare between these two sworn enemies is easily into the billions of dollars. How are they placed to weather the economic storm?

Smugglers and militias have been active along the country's boundaries in recent days, which could attract unwanted conflict. With resources stretched, Damascus is keen to contain things.

For decades, Iran's supreme leader—first Khomeini, then Khamenei—pursued a strategy of backing regional militias to fight Israel, but with the 'resistance axis' in tatters, Iran is left to fight alone

Iran's nuclear programme is damaged, but its determination is heightened

Analysts warn that if the US becomes involved and the conflict widens into a regional war, a more volatile reaction would be likely

By hyping up the threat of a nuclear Iran, Netanyahu knows he can scare Israeli society into backing military action—a tactic he has perfected throughout his lengthy political career

Israel sees an opportunity to eliminate a strategic regional rival, but the future course of events primarily hinges on what Trump decides to do next