The Edge of War, Absence of Strategic Containment

When we teach military strategy to our students in universities and specialized institutes, we are not just referring to superiority and military intervention with tanks, planes, and missiles. Strategic containment often plays a significant role in achieving desired results.

Let me share a historical story that illustrates the theory of strategic containment, known to those who practice Kendo (the Way of the Sword):

"One day, a weary man entered a small city seeking food and work but found none. He encountered an armed man with a shining sword who challenged him to a duel the next day in the middle of the city. The visitor learned that the armed man was one of the fiercest and strongest warriors. Realizing he couldn't match his opponent's skills, he sought advice from a martial arts teacher, who advised him to remain motionless during the fight, recite prayers, and move his lips silently. During the duel, the warrior was perplexed by the visitor's unexpected behavior. Unable to discern his opponent's intentions, the warrior chose not to attack, and the visitor ultimately settled in the small town and lived a prosperous life."

From my point of view, this story reflects the philosophy of the art of war and emphasizes the strategic genius of containment and encirclement at minimal cost for guaranteed results.

This strategic genius was notably lacking in the initiators of the "Al-Aqsa Flood," who miscalculated the potential outcomes. Similarly, Hezbollah found itself facing numerous challenges, particularly after Israeli intelligence planted explosives in communication devices imported by Hezbollah, revealing weaknesses in their anticipation and preemption capabilities.

This strategic precision has indeed led Iran to carefully consider its military decisions in light of Israeli-American military superiority and the challenges posed by fifth-generation warfare.

Based on these assumptions, strategic containment, as depicted in the story we started our article with, and through its representation among the actors, could have had positive effects. This could have prevented the current calamities in a region that is moving further away from peace and security. In conclusion, the problems are increasing, and there are difficult and successive crises: multiple militias, anxious armies, border-crossing marches, fifth-generation spies, and unequal alliances.