There's something profoundly unhealthy about the way Donald Trump encourages Israel to play with Iranian fire. Read more: netanyahu plays trump Read more: trump sabotages creation The assassination of Ali Larijani last night, claimed by the Israeli military, bears the signature of an American strategy as cynical as it is irresponsible: pushing its Middle Eastern ally toward direct confrontation with Tehran while keeping its own hands relatively clean.
When Trump declares he's "not afraid to send ground troops to Iran," as reported by the New York Times, we must translate: he's not afraid to send others into harm's way. Because let's be clear, it wasn't the Marines who just eliminated Iran's most influential security official after Khamenei himself. It was Israeli special forces who took this colossal risk, at American encouragement.
This geostrategic division of labor reveals all the hypocrisy of the American-Israeli alliance. Washington provides intelligence, weapons, diplomatic support, and grand martial declarations. Tel Aviv provides pilots, commandos, and... potential targets for Iranian retaliation. Hard to imagine a more unequal distribution of risks.
Larijani's elimination isn't a simple "tactical strike" as armchair strategists like to present it. It's a major escalation that fundamentally transforms the regional equation. Larijani wasn't just a security bureaucrat: he was the architect of Iranian strategy in the Middle East, the man who coordinated Shiite militias from Lebanon to Yemen. His death amounts to decapitating the nervous system of Iranian influence in the region.
Tehran cannot let such an affront pass without massive retaliation. The ayatollahs built their legitimacy on resistance to the American-Israeli axis. They're now forced into spectacular reprisal or risk losing all credibility with their regional allies and their own population.
But here's the diabolical trap Trump has set for Israel: any Iranian retaliation will primarily target Israeli territory, not American. US military bases in the Gulf are certainly exposed, but Iran knows perfectly well that directly attacking American forces would trigger total war it cannot win. However, bombarding Tel Aviv or Haifa remains within the regional "rules of the game."
This risk asymmetry isn't accidental: it's intended by Washington. For decades, American strategy in the Middle East has consisted of using Israel as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" to project power without assuming all political and human costs. Trump simply pushes this logic to its extreme.
Most revolting in this affair is the complicit passivity of Western media that systematically present these escalations as "legitimate responses" to "Iranian provocations." As if the targeted assassination of a high foreign official on his national territory constituted legitimate defense. As if Iran had no right to react to the elimination of its leaders.
This Manichean reading prevents seeing reality: we're witnessing a proxy war where America uses Israel to weaken Iran without assuming the consequences of this strategy. Trump can certainly boast about hypothetically sending American troops: he knows perfectly well that American public opinion wouldn't tolerate another ground war in the Middle East.
The tragic irony is that Israel, by accepting this role as military proxy, compromises its own long-term security. Each escalation strengthens Iranian determination to develop asymmetric strike capabilities. Each targeted assassination further justifies, in Tehran's eyes, the necessity of acquiring nuclear weapons.
Ultimately, this strategy of permanent tension serves only one interest: maintaining Israeli dependence on the American security umbrella. The more the region burns, the more Tel Aviv needs Washington. The more military risks Israel takes, the more indispensable it becomes to America's Iranian containment strategy.
Larijani's death perhaps marks a point of no return in this escalation. But make no mistake: when Iranian missiles rain down on Israel in the coming days, Trump will be safely sheltered in his American bunkers, keeping score of this war he helped trigger without ever fighting it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Trump say about sending ground troops to Iran?
Trump stated he is "not afraid to send ground troops to Iran," which suggests he is willing to put others in harm's way while maintaining a distance from direct involvement.
Q: Who was Ali Larijani and why is his assassination significant?
Ali Larijani was a key figure in Iranian security and strategy, coordinating Shiite militias across the Middle East. His assassination represents a major escalation in the conflict and significantly alters the regional power dynamics.
Q: How does the American-Israeli alliance impact the risks involved in military actions?
The alliance reveals a disparity in risk distribution, where the U.S. provides intelligence and support while Israel carries out operations, making it vulnerable to retaliation from Iran, which complicates the geopolitical landscape.