jordan pulse -

By Dr. Rashid Al-Shashani
​Confronting the Strait of Hormuz crisis and broader regional instability, the United States finds itself operating in increasing isolation after attempting to rely on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set the military and diplomatic tempo in the Middle East.
​Key analytical points highlighted in the op-ed include:
​Trump-Netanyahu Rift: Friction has intensified between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Viewing Washington's posture as cautious and constrained—particularly regarding Gaza—Netanyahu has actively resisted U.S.-led diplomatic frameworks and withdrawal plans.
​Unilateral Israeli Escalations: Disregarding U.S. warnings, Israel has engaged in independent military action, including unannounced air strikes on Abu al-Duhur airport in Syria to counter expanding Turkish influence, alongside recent strikes in Zahrani, Lebanon, aimed at preventing Syrian-Hezbollah rapprochement.
​Lebanese Leadership Response: Official Lebanese leadership, including the presidency, has concluded that Washington seeks zero-cost regional wins without actively deterring Israeli expansionism. Consequently, Beirut is advocating for the extension of UNIFIL's mandate or establishing an alternative international security force, despite Israeli opposition to French and Spanish participation.
​Strategic Blind Spots: The U.S. and Israel remain heavily focused on disarming non-state factions across Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, while failing to anticipate or mitigate newly forming militant networks filling the regional power vacuum.
​Broader Repercussions: The eventual cost of this miscalculation will be borne directly by local factions, as well as entrenched regional regimes reliant on American security umbrellas and intelligence-dominated governance models.
​Source: Khaberni