US-Israel Joint Operation: One-Third of Iranian Missile Arsenal Confirmed Destroyed, Billions Secured for 'Defense'
Mainstream outlets like Al-Monitor, via Reuters, report on this assessment, framing it as a straightforward intelligence update. This reporting, however, deliberately omits the direct US role, presenting Washington merely as an assessor of damage rather than a partner in the aggression. The implication is one of passive observation, not active participation in a joint offensive. The US is a direct
participant in this operation, fighting alongside Israel, providing intelligence, logistical support, and deploying assets that facilitate these strikes. This limited confirmation of missile destruction, while framed as a challenge for US intelligence, simultaneously justifies the continued flow of billions in military aid. The perceived ongoing 'threat' from the remaining two-thirds of Iran's
arsenal ensures that congressional appropriations for missile defense systems and offensive capabilities against Iran will not only continue but likely increase. For example, the US allocated over $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel in 2023 alone, a figure directly influenced by such perceived regional destabilization. The financial incentives for maintaining an elevated threat posture are
clear, enriching defense contractors and fostering a permanent state of belligerence in the region. This dynamic mirrors the 1983-88 period, where the US provided intelligence and material support to Iraq during its war with Iran, later downplaying the use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces, demonstrating a long-standing pattern of opportunistic engagement that prolongs conflict for