Myanmar Spring Chronicle – June 13 View
(MoeMaKa, June 14, 2025):
Israel’s Preemptive Strikes on Iran and Global Implications
On the morning of Friday, June 13, Israel launched coordinated air and drone strikes on multiple high-value military targets in Iran, including locations linked to Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, the Revolutionary Guards commander, and nuclear scientists. This has escalated tensions to a point where the situation can now be described as an open war between Israel and Iran.
While the Middle East has already been in a state of near-continuous conflict—especially since the Israeli onslaught on Gaza targeting Hamas militants—the war in Gaza has been more of a colonial-style suppression rather than a conventional interstate war. Over 50,000 civilians have been killed in Gaza over the past year and a half. Israel has been able to carry out these operations with military and financial support from the United States and key Western powers including the UK, Germany, Italy, and France.
Against this backdrop, Israel has now taken the initiative to strike directly inside Iran, a powerful Shiite Muslim country and a major regional force. While the U.S. claims non-involvement, its missile defense systems have been activated to intercept Iranian retaliation rockets targeting Tel Aviv—indicating quiet support.
As a NATO member, the U.S. and some Western European nations continue to back Israel under the guise of “self-defense,” while turning a blind eye to the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian women, children, and the elderly.
This latest strike against Iran is being framed once again by Western allies as Israel exercising its right to self-defense. Despite not directly engaging in the conflict, these powers are expected to continue supporting Israel from behind the scenes.
If the Israel-Iran conflict widens, regional powers like Yemen and Lebanon may become involved. This would turn the Middle East into an even more dangerous war zone, with far-reaching global consequences—even if it doesn’t officially become a world war. These could include:
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Disruptions in global oil production
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Threats to trade routes and supply chains
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Price hikes in energy and consumer goods across Europe and Asia
If a second major war breaks out in the Middle East before the Russia-Ukraine conflict is resolved, international attention and diplomatic focus will likely shift away from ongoing internal conflicts like Myanmar’s. The world tends to prioritize “fires burning at home” over distant crises.
Although NATO states portray the Ukraine war as a wider threat to European stability and democracy, they are selectively critical—condemning China’s support for Russia, while continuing to defend Israel’s massive, civilian-killing military operations in Gaza, which many human rights groups consider a form of ethnic cleansing or genocide.
These double standards erode the credibility of liberal democratic nations. In reality, authoritarian regimes and their supporters are growing globally, and the influence of democratic norms is shrinking.
The Myanmar Spring Revolution, its civil war, and the anti-junta movement may therefore see a decrease in international attention and support. With global crises multiplying, Myanmar’s struggle risks being deprioritized.
As authoritarianism rises globally, it becomes clear that Myanmar’s fight for freedom cannot rely solely on international assistance. Strategic and realistic assessments are urgently needed, with new long-term plans and approaches required to sustain and eventually achieve meaningful outcomes.