The End of the Flood: Will Netanyahu's Gamble Succeed in Dragging the Region into a Comprehensive Confrontation with Iran?

The roots of Israeli incitement against regional powers go back decades, with observers recalling Benjamin Netanyahu's role in 2002 when he pushed the American administration towards invading Iraq. At that time, Netanyahu promoted the idea that removing Saddam Hussein's regime would make the world safer, an approach he is now employing with Iran, exploiting the harmony with the current American administration.

Analysts believe that the Israeli desire to strike Iran is not merely a reaction to ongoing events, but a strategy embedded in Netanyahu's political thought. In his book 'Fighting Extremism,' he affirmed his constant pursuit to prevent Islamic countries, especially Iran, from possessing nuclear weapons, which explains the continuous demonization of Tehran in international forums.

The past months have witnessed a state of global tension as a result of escalating mutual threats and massive American military buildups in the region. Although some considered these buildups merely a show of force to achieve negotiating gains, the reality on the ground exceeded expectations with the start of direct military operations.

Israel launched a wide-ranging military operation targeting Iranian sites and leading figures under the name 'Lion's Roar,' moving the conflict from the shadows to open confrontation. This step comes in the context of an escalation that began with the launch of the Al-Aqsa Deluge battle in October 2023, due to Iran's declared support for the Palestinian resistance.

Internal American factors strongly influence the shaping of this explosive scene, with reports indicating that President Trump's decisions are affected by pressures resulting from the 'Epstein' scandals. It appears that escaping the legal and political consequences of these scandals is pushing towards adopting positions more compliant with Netanyahu's extremist desires in the region.

American and Israeli attempts to create popular chaos within Iran failed, which led Netanyahu to impose impossible conditions in any potential negotiations. These conditions include the complete cessation of the nuclear program and the dismantling of the ballistic missile system, which proved effective in previous rounds of escalation.

On the diplomatic front, the Sultanate of Oman continues to play a mediating role in back-channel negotiations between Washington and Tehran to try and contain the situation. However, the state of international turmoil and the formation of new political alignments make the mediation task extremely difficult amidst rapid field developments.

The American administration used its military buildups of warships and aircraft to create a state of terror and anticipation, and to test direct and indirect Iranian reactions. This buildup also aims to gauge Tehran's ability to threaten shipping lanes and American bases in the event of a comprehensive war.

This current round of confrontations is expected to continue for several days, coinciding with the imposition of new American sanctions and intense European political pressure. These pressures are based on the positions of some parties that condemn the targeting of American bases, deepening the division in the Arab and international political landscape.

Russia and China emerge as key players in supporting Iran's steadfastness against the American storm, providing effective support that prevents Washington from monopolizing the region. Both countries believe that a strong Iran hinders the United States from focusing on confronting them in other international issues, and deprives Trump of achieving an external political victory.

In response, Tehran launched the 'End of the Deluge' operation, which included shelling Israeli sites and American bases in the region through its allies. This response confirms that Tehran will not stand idly by in the face of targeting its sovereignty, and that it is prepared to expand the circle of fire if the aggression continues.

The Arab geography remains the main arena for settling scores and receiving mutual blows between the warring parties. In light of this major conflict, the official Arab role appears to be absent from real influence, making Arab countries merely a theater for events without the ability to shape outcomes.

The intertwining of issues, from the Iranian nuclear program to the war in Gaza and political scandals in Washington, makes it difficult to predict an early end to this round. Each party views this confrontation as an existential battle that does not accept half-solutions, which raises the level of danger to the stability of the entire region.

In conclusion, the question remains whether 'The End of the Deluge' will lead to a major settlement or be the spark for a regional war that leaves nothing untouched. The coming days will reveal the extent of international parties' ability to curb Netanyahu's military ambitions and prevent the region from sliding into the abyss.

What Israel is currently doing in terms of incitement against Iran is not a spur-of-the-moment act, but a continuous Israeli dream led by Netanyahu for decades.