On October 1, Iran executed a significant aerial assault on Israel as a response to the killings of high-ranking Hezbollah and Hamas officials, along with several Iranian officers in Beirut and Tehran.

In preparation for this offensive and to bolster its ally Israel, the United States enhanced its already substantial military presence in the Middle East. American destroyers played a crucial role in intercepting the 180 missiles launched by Iran targeting military installations in Israel. Such military involvement has become a standard practice for the US, which has consistently intervened in the region over the past decades to safeguard Israel, either directly or indirectly.

Nevertheless, these US military interventions have often produced counterproductive outcomes: they have increased Israel’s vulnerability and fostered a greater reliance on American military support. This situation has also rendered Israel the most perilous location for Jews worldwide.

The US-Israeli focus on military solutions has hindered any meaningful attempts to tackle the underlying issues fueling tensions in the region, particularly the Palestinian-Zionist conflict. This dynamic has given rise to formidable new military entities and grassroots resistance groups throughout the Middle East. Organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Ansar Allah (the Houthis) frequently target both US and Israeli interests.

The strength of the coalition currently opposing Israel stems not only from its military capabilities but also from its alignment with Arab public sentiment. This coalition is prepared and capable of resisting Israel’s occupation and oppression of Arab populations, a stance that no Arab nation has taken since 1973. This situation underscores the long history of American-Israeli military actions and the failure of Arab governments to safeguard their territories, citizens, and sovereignty.

Washington’s rapid and substantial military assistance to Israel continues to fuel the cycle of violence, contradicting its calls for de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. Many in the Middle East are skeptical of Washington’s rhetoric, as its actions consistently demonstrate a preference for warfare, sanctions, threats, and military buildups as primary means of engagement with perceived adversaries in the region since World War II.

A regional conflict is increasingly taking shape, and the US is not merely being drawn into it by Israel; rather, it has actively chosen to participate. This inclination stems from a longstanding affinity for warfare, particularly in support of Israel. Several factors contribute to this dynamic.

American politicians recognize that warfare can stimulate the economy. The defense budget, which approaches $850 billion, sees annual increases of 2-3 percent for a reason. Military conflict drives defense spending, creates jobs, and generates profits for numerous companies, both large and small, many of which contribute significantly to political campaigns every two years.

To date, Washington has expended between $1.8 billion and $4 billion on military operations against Ansar Allah in Yemen, without halting their assaults on vessels in the Red Sea, which are a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The collaborative operation involving Israeli, US, British, and French forces to counter Iranian drones and missiles aimed at Israel in April incurred an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. The military response on October 1 was likely similarly costly. Some Arab nations also participated in intercepting Iranian missiles, as Israel can no longer ensure its own defense independently.

Washington willingly allocates these substantial funds to enhance its global influence and to sustain its extensive military-industrial complex through lucrative contracts for both domestic and international purposes.

The nearly $4 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel primarily funds military systems acquired from American companies, representing a substantial financial boost to the U.S. military-industrial complex.

In addition to supporting its military capabilities, the U.S. has various motivations for engaging in conflicts on behalf of Israel.

The strong political and military ties between Israel and the U.S. can be traced back to the Cold War, during which Israel was regarded as a crucial ally safeguarding U.S. interests in a region rife with adversarial nations aligned with the Soviet Union. Even after the Cold War, Washington continued to perceive Tel Aviv as a vital partner in sustaining U.S. influence in the Middle East.

U.S. politics are influenced by a range of factors, including Israeli advocacy, lobbying organizations, evangelical Christians, and a pro-Israel mainstream media, all of which contribute to military interventions in support of Israel.

President Joe Biden is notable among recent U.S. presidents for his strong support of Israel, driven by two main factors: the political advantages he gains from this position and the fact that his early political career coincided with the peak of Israeli advocacy and national milestones in the 1960s and 70s. During that time, Israel was often viewed as a miraculous entity emerging from the tragedies of the Holocaust, a perspective that the U.S. president, who identifies as a Zionist, continues to embrace.

The dynamics within the US Congress are evident in its consistent provision of substantial aid and unique economic and technological advantages to Israel, alongside a legal obligation to maintain Israel’s superiority over its adversaries.

Mainstream media in the United States has significantly contributed to the public’s lack of awareness regarding the realities faced by Palestinians, fostering support for Israel and the financial assistance it receives from the US. This media landscape has rationalized American military interventions abroad and has often biased its coverage to align with Israeli perspectives on conflicts involving Palestinians, Lebanon, Iran, and the broader Middle East.

The current escalation is unlikely to be the final one. As regional tensions rise, American naval forces will persist in their frequent deployments, contributing to instability both regionally and globally. The legacy of US militarism over the past 25 years has resulted in the establishment of approximately 60 military bases and other installations throughout the Middle East.

This pattern is expected to endure until more astute leaders engage in negotiations aimed at resolving the Palestinian-Israeli and US-Iranian disputes, grounded in the principle that Israel, Palestine, Iran, and all relevant parties should possess equal rights to statehood, sovereignty, and security. While the US and Israel may express support for these ideals, their actions often hinder genuine peace efforts and perpetuate ongoing military conflicts.

A significant portion of Arab public opinion strongly advocates for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state as a crucial element in achieving a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace. This perspective is gradually gaining traction among the American populace, potentially setting the stage for a shift in policy in Washington.

Investing in genuine peace initiatives would be a more straightforward, fair, cost-effective, and significantly less harmful approach than maintaining the existing colonial circumstances, which are consistently supported by the presence of American troops. This represents the most effective and likely the sole method to ensure Israel’s security.