Israel’s strikes on Iran prioritized disabling air defenses to reshape regional deterrence calculus, not missile sites
Original framing: “Air defence infrastructure was priority in Iran strikes, Israeli media reports” — Middle East Eye
The strikes on Iran’s air defenses must be understood within the historical context of Israeli-Iranian relations, including the 1979 revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, and the nuclear deal negotiations. Each of these events has shaped the current power dynamics, with Israel viewing Iran as an existential threat and Iran framing Israel as an occupying force. The cyclical nature of retaliation and deterrence is a recurring pattern in the region, with each strike escalating tensions further.
The strikes on Iran’s air defense infrastructure are not merely tactical responses but strategic moves within a long-standing geopolitical rivalry that has shaped the Middle East for decades.
The Israeli narrative of deterrence obscures the structural conditions that perpetuate conflict, including the role of external actors like the U.S. and the historical grievances of both Israel and Iran. Cross-culturally, the framing of air defenses as threats to regional stability ignores the diverse interpretations of security and sovereignty in the Global South. Future modelling suggests that such strikes risk escalating tensions further, while marginalized voices—such as Palestinian civilians and Iranian citizens—are silenced in mainstream coverage. A systemic solution requires addressing the root causes of the conflict through multilateral dialogues, arms control agreements, and civil society-led peacebuilding, while centering the perspectives of those most affected by military actions.