Is there a commander-in-chief in this war? One can wonder at each stage of this conflict which continues its inexorable escalation. Donald Trump seems surprised by the actions of his Israeli ally; he seems surprised that Iran is still able to retaliate, and surely; and he is in denial about the fact that the impact of the war he triggered in Iran is derailing the global economy.
The battle of the gas facilities that took place over the past two days is an instructive case study. In the first episode, the Israeli air force bombed the Iranian gas site in Pars-south, a central infrastructure in the Iranian economy. A new target in this third week of intensive bombings by the United States and Israel.
In the second episode, the Iranian retaliation occurs shortly afterwards: it targets the energy installations of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The damage is so severe at the giant Qatari gas site of Ras Laffan, three times the size of Paris, that it will take several years to repair. And this is where everything goes wrong.
Donald Trump receives a call from the angry emir of Qatar over the Israeli bombing that provoked these Iranian reprisals. Trump declares his surprise, he asserts that he was not informed of this choice of target, and demands that the energy installations be spared.
On their end, the Israelis communicate that the coordination between the two armies, Israeli and American, is total, and that everything is decided jointly. This cacophony is of the worst kind in the middle of a massive war.
What this episode reveals is how much Israel is calling the shots in this conflict, illustrating the amateurism of Donald Trump and his team overwhelmed by the events. In a tweet, Trump tried to look authoritative by writing in large letters, “NO FURTHER ATTACK WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY ISRAEL” on the Pars site. But it is too late.
Context: The article discusses the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran involving bombings of key gas installations.
Fact Check: The content highlights Trump’s surprise and dismay over the unfolding events, pointing out the repercussions on the global economy and the military actions taken by the involved parties.
