Opinion | How the Israel-Iran conflict changed the scope of 21st-century warfare
As technology and commerce reshape military strategy and conflict resolution, the role of rising powers in influencing outcomes is instructive
Israel’s systematic targeting of both physical infrastructure and human capital marked a strategic evolution from destroying facilities to dismantling institutional knowledge. The precision-strike capabilities show that nuclear-capable states can engage in extended conventional combat without triggering a strategic nuclear exchange. This potentially encourages military adventurism by suggesting advanced conventional capabilities can achieve strategic objectives while remaining below the nuclear threshold.
US President Donald Trump’s initial ceasefire announcement on social media was quickly disputed by Iranian officials, leading to continued fighting. The real ceasefire came only after intensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy, highlighting how digital platforms are now forcing rapid crisis responses while traditional diplomatic channels remain essential for actual resolutions. Currency markets and energy futures rapidly reacted to leaders’ social media posts, fundamentally altering how international actors assess geopolitical risks.