Jawed Anwar

THE new global war revolves around Al-Quds and Palestine, with some calling it the beginning of a third or final world war. The struggle for Palestine’s freedom began with the Intifada, fueled by the spirit of Islam and martyrdom, and the slingshots of Palestinian youth. These youths found an organization like Hamas, which strengthened its grip on Gaza. The secular and liberal Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) weakened, but Hamas became a symbol of jihad, victory, honor, and courage.

To contain Iran’s Islamic Revolution, the United States, the West, and Sunni states in the Middle East labeled it a “Shia revolution,” attempting to stoke Shia-Sunni discord. Despite this, Iran continued to support the Sunni jihadi force Hamas in Palestine and backed the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Israel deployed its full might to crush Hamas’s strength. It martyred key Hamas leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed Yassin (2004), Abdel Aziz Rantisi (2004), Salah Shehadeh (2002), Yahya Ayyash (1996), Ismail Haniyeh (2024), Yahya Sinwar (2024), Saleh Al-Arouri (2024), Marwan Issa (2025), Ahmed Al-Jabari (2012), Rouhi Mushtaha (2024), Adnan Al-Ghoul (2004), Nizar Rayyan (2009), Jamila Al-Shanti (2023), Rafi Salama (2024), Zakaria Abu Maamar (2023), Jawad Abu Shamala (2023), Ismail Barhoum (2025), Bassem Nofal, and Imad Aql (1993).

On October 7, 2023, Hamas, with the support of Iranian missiles, launched an attack on Israel, proving that it remains alive, active, and driven by the passion for martyrdom. Hamas has neither accepted Israel’s subjugation nor ever will. It will fight to its last breath. The credit for Hamas’s renewed strength goes to Iran. To aid the Palestinians, Iran supported not only Hamas but also Hezbollah in Lebanon, armed the Houthis in Yemen, and attempted to assist through the Syrian government. However, Israel and the U.S. systematically weakened these forces. Hezbollah’s entire leadership was martyred, and in Syria, Bashar al-Assad’s government was toppled, replaced by Abu Mohammad al-Julani (real name: Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa), allegedly a former member of the Western-backed “Islamic State.” Julani’s regime offered no resistance to Israel’s occupation of a large part of Syria.

From October 2023 to June 2025, Israeli attacks in Palestine resulted in over 57,800 deaths, more than 130,000 injuries, the destruction of 360,000 buildings, damage to over 100 schools and multiple hospitals, and widespread devastation of infrastructure. In Gaza, over 10,000 children were killed, while 195 children’s deaths were reported in the West Bank. More than 10,000 people are missing, including 21,000 children (17,000 unaccompanied and 4,000 trapped under rubble). Israel continues relentless attacks on Gaza, targeting starving and thirsty children who approach relief trucks for food. Children and women are deliberately targeted. Yet, Palestinian fighters resist steadfastly, and Israel has failed to free even a single prisoner by force.

In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh killed the children of Bani Israel, but today, Bani Israel has surpassed Pharaoh in the slaughter of Palestinian children, writing a new history of oppression. Because of its support for Palestinians, Israel has consistently targeted Iran.

Due to Imam Khomeini’s fatwa prohibiting the development of nuclear weapons, Iran’s nuclear program was solely for peaceful purposes. However, Iran’s military advancements and arms manufacturing capabilities were intolerable to Israel. For the past twenty years, reports suggested Israel would attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Finally, on June 13, 2025, Israel launched large-scale airstrikes on Tehran, Isfahan, Natanz, and other areas, targeting military installations, nuclear facilities, civilian populations, buildings, media houses, and infrastructure. These attacks martyred Iran’s senior military and nuclear leadership, including 20 senior military commanders and 14 nuclear scientists.

According to Iranian sources, 657 people were killed, including 70 women and children. Hundreds of buildings (military, nuclear, energy, and residential) were destroyed or damaged, with 1,100 targets hit.

Yet, within 24 hours, Iran reorganized its military leadership and launched a counterattack on Israel. These attacks adhered to Islamic war ethics, aiming to minimize loss of life while maximizing strategic gains. As a result, only 28 people were killed and 3,238 injured in Israel (per Israeli sources).

Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed 100 to 200 buildings in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Petah Tikva, Bat Yam, and Rishon LeZion, including oil refineries and technology parks. Israel tried to conceal its defense system’s failures and losses to maintain the illusion of its strength.

Within a week, Israel began pleading for U.S. assistance. Ultimately, Donald Trump, through deception, used B-2 aircraft to drop bunker-buster bombs on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump’s recklessness, constantly shifting statements, and unwavering support for Israel have rendered him utterly untrustworthy.

It is said that when a nation’s downfall is imminent, its leaders lose their sanity. Trump’s frivolous behavior and subservience to Israel will lead America to ruin.

The real issue is not the extent of losses but the balance of power. With its advanced drones and missile technology, Iran has proven it can destroy not only Israel but also all U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Iran possesses strength, ideological zeal, cutting-edge technology, a robust economy, courage, and the necessary patience. It has boldly challenged the tyranny of Israel and its patron, the U.S., emerging as a formidable power in the Middle East, fundamentally altering the balance of power.

In the next column, In Shaa Allah, we will discuss Iran’s leadership quality and Muslim Ummah.

Jawed Anwar can be reached at jawed@seerahwest.com