2025: Israel Surrounded by Security and Regional Crises
WANA (Jan 06) – The year 2025 has emerged as one of unprecedented tension for Israel. A state that has long sought to secure its borders and military dominance is now entangled in a complex crisis spanning domestic, regional, and international dimensions. Over a year after the Gaza War and the historic “Al-Aqsa Storm” operation, Israel faces challenges that are no longer predictable or controllable.
The Beginning of a Nightmare: When Offense Turned into Defense
The “Al-Aqsa Storm” operation, launched on October 7, 2023, marked a turning point in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the first time, Israel shifted from an offensive to a defensive posture, with its security apparatus suffering unprecedented blows. Heavy casualties, infrastructure destruction, and political-military decision-making paralysis were just some of the fallout.
Previously, Israeli institutions managed security threats based on clear priorities. However, “Al-Aqsa Storm” disrupted all calculations like an earthquake, forcing Israel to adopt new decisions daily and brace for unpredictable developments from multiple fronts.
Israel’s Past Strategy: Focusing on Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Resistance
Before “Al-Aqsa Storm,” Israel concentrated its intelligence and security efforts on three primary fronts:
1. Iran: Tehran’s nuclear program and military capabilities remained a perpetual nightmare for Tel Aviv.
2. Hezbollah in Lebanon: A constant threat on Israel’s northern border, with missile capabilities deeply concerning the regime.
3. Palestinian Resistance: Strategies revolved around suppressing Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the West Bank while attempting to fragment and weaken it.
True Promise 3: Redefining Regional Dynamics or Empowering Enemies?
WANA (Dec 16) – The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government and the domination of terrorist groups over Syria marks a dangerous turning point for the Axis of Resistance. For years, Syria served as a key link in this axis, and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for the legitimate government of Bashar al-Assad, alongside Hezbollah, […]
Israel also sought to form an Arab coalition against Iran and the Resistance Axis, but these efforts largely failed. Even Israel’s advanced defense systems, developed in collaboration with the U.S. and other countries, proved ineffective against attacks during operations like “True Promise 1 and 2” and against resistance drones and missiles.
New Challenges in 2025: From Iran to Yemen
The year 2025 has ushered in fresh challenges for Israel:
Iran: A Constant Threat
Iran remains Israel’s greatest security nightmare. Following the “True Promise 1 and 2” operations in 2024, the conflict dynamic between Iran and Israel shifted. Tel Aviv now recognizes that any miscalculated action could provoke a direct response from Tehran.
An Iranian cleric visits the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran, November 15, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia press Agency)
Hezbollah in Lebanon
Despite a fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, the threat from Hezbollah persists. Over 90% of settlers in northern Israeli towns refuse to return to their homes, and the Israeli military has been unable to guarantee their safety.
Palestinian Resistance
Rather than weakening, Palestinian resistance has expanded across all of Palestine’s geography and beyond. In the West Bank, resistance operations against the Israeli army have peaked, and even cooperation with the Palestinian Authority has failed to suppress this movement.
Yemen: A New Front of Resistance
Perhaps the most surprising development of 2025 is Yemen’s direct engagement with Israel. Yemeni missile and drone strikes on Tel Aviv have severely tested Israel’s defensive capabilities. Yemen’s resistance has not only held its ground but has become a new nightmare for Israel.
Damage to Israel’s Global Standing: From Isolation to Arrest Warrants
One of the most significant consequences of “Al-Aqsa Storm” has been Israel’s growing international isolation. The regime’s crimes against civilians in Gaza have sparked global condemnation. For the first time, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.
Even Israel’s traditional allies in Europe and the United States, under pressure from public opinion, have reduced cooperation. The global campaign to boycott Israel has reached its peak, with Israeli officials facing widespread protests at international forums.
The Erosion of the Israeli Military
Israel’s military, once the backbone of its security, now grapples with an unprecedented crisis. Repeated failures of ground forces and the ineffectiveness of multilayered defense systems have deeply eroded both domestic and international confidence in the army.
Israeli Citizen Accused of Spying for Iran
WANA (Dec 31) – Israeli prosecutors intend to charge an Israeli citizen with espionage for Iran. Alexander Granovsky, 29, is the latest among approximately 30 suspects arrested in recent months on charges of spying for the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to newly released information, Israeli prosecutors plan to accuse this 29-year-old resident […]
Reliance on reserve forces, foreign mercenaries, and the pressures of a protracted war have created internal crises within the Israeli military that are proving difficult to resolve.
Internal Collapse: Deep Social Divisions
Israel’s internal crises have intensified, particularly following “Al-Aqsa Storm.” Ethnic tensions, social disparities, and dissatisfaction with the government and military have pushed internal divisions to dangerous levels. The ongoing issue of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza has further deepened these divides, polarizing Israeli society into conflicting factions.
A Dark Future for Israel’s Domestic Security
What threatens Israel most in 2025 is the collapse of its internal security concept. Surveys indicate a significant increase in emigration from Israeli-occupied territories due to growing fears of insecurity.
Recent assessments reveal that Israel can no longer achieve the security and stability it once envisioned. Internal fractures, external threats, and global isolation are gradually transforming Israel into a fragile and vulnerable entity.
The End of a Myth?
Could 2025 mark the beginning of the end for the myth of a “powerful Israel”? The challenges ahead reveal profound weaknesses in the regime’s security, social, and political structures. More than ever, Israel’s future looks bleak.
