Videos of lights streaking across the night sky, resembling fast-moving falling stars, have become symbolic of the broader conflict unfolding in the Middle East. These are not stars, but rather deadly projectiles launched across the dessert.

Initiated by Israel and heavily backed by Western powers, this conflict has now entered a new and uncertain phase with yesterday’s attack by Iran on Israel, marking a significant escalation. In contrast to Iran’s previous response, which followed the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, this latest strike offers no clarity on where the situation is heading. The earlier retaliation was carefully calculated and well-publicized, giving Israel and its allies ample time to intercept the rockets. It was intended to re-establish deterrence, signaling to Israel that Iran could respond if provoked, without causing enough damage to spark a full-scale war. While this measured response may have been seen as a reasonable course of action, more aggressive factions in Israel appeared unsatisfied.

The situation has since escalated, particularly following the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran and now the killing of Hezbollah’s leader. It seems that the prospect of war is unavoidable. This time, Iran’s retaliation was immediate, without any warning, targeting strategic locations on the ground. Initial reports suggest that airfields used by Israel in operations against Nasrallah were hit, along with key oil and gas infrastructure.

Unlike previous attacks that were primarily symbolic, these strikes were intended to inflict real damage, and it appears Iran has partially achieved that goal. The key question now is how this will play out. In the past, there was some hope that diplomatic efforts and international pressure could restrain Israel. Today, however, such assurances are far from certain.

With the United States embroiled in its own internal political strife and a president whose leadership is in question, there seems to be no reliable authority to manage or de-escalate this growing conflict. As tensions rise, the world watches anxiously, uncertain of what the next step will be.