US-Israel Joint Strikes Hit Tehran, Beirut Amidst 'Winding Down' Rhetoric
Israel initiated new strikes against targets in Tehran and Beirut following claims of Iranian missile fire, actions that coincided with US President Donald Trump’s public statement that he was contemplating a “winding down” of military operations against Iran after three weeks of joint US-Israeli aggression. Mainstream outlets like Al-Monitor framed this as Israel responding to Iranian aggression,
a familiar narrative that consistently omits the broader context of a full-scale US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which officially commenced on February 28. This framing conveniently ignores the American role as a direct participant and joint aggressor, rather than merely a supporter, in these illegal strikes against sovereign nations. This ongoing aggression, masked by a rhetoric of
de-escalation, serves to consolidate specific vested interests. The military-industrial complex, for instance, benefits immensely from sustained conflict, with US defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon seeing their stock values surge in periods of heightened tension in the region. The persistent drumbeat for conflict directly funnels billions into the coffers of these corporations,
whose executives often transition seamlessly into and out of government positions, ensuring a continuous feedback loop of profit and policy. The 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by the US, despite Iran's full compliance verified by the IAEA, was a political decision that effectively sabotaged a diplomatic solution, opening the door for the very military