The Israel-Iran Conflict: Global And Regional Ramifications

One week has passed since the longstanding "shadow war" between Israel and Iran went abruptly hot. Israel is making the most of a moment when Iran is historically weak, while the Iranian regime is attempting - unsuccessfully - to show the region, and its own people, that its capabilities are not too degraded (nor its government too infiltrated by Israeli intelligence) to let Israel's attacks go unpunished. President Trump is holding the key to the resolution of the conflict and, following days of mixed messages, has increased the pressure on Iran, signaling the US may join in on Israel's attacks, unless Iran "totally surrenders." Israel, for its part, is actively trying to draw the US into the conflict: persuading the US to deploy its heavy bomber fleets to drop ground-penetrating ordinance on Iran's most protected nuclear sites, mainly Fordow, is what Israel covets. The big question of whether the US will join in or not – the decisive question in determining the