Ordinarily, an article or column does not begin by quoting a sentence. One usually starts with an introduction, and only after the headline might an important quotation, reference or political remark appear.
Yet something unusual happened recently. When President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used a particular expression from the podium, political observers around the world – Muslim and non-Muslim alike, from East to West, from North to South, including Israelis, Armenians and Greeks – picked up that sentence and carried it into their own columns or posted it on X. A phrase spoken in Türkiye unexpectedly resonated globally.
The central question being debated is: Whose war is this? It is perhaps one of the most frequently asked and widely debated questions in the world today.
The source material questions whether the world needed this war, and asks how dangerous Iran was for the region, for the U.S., or for Israel. After last year’s 12-Day War, Iran had largely turned inward, focusing on its domestic issues. However, Israel launched a direct attack on Iran, similar to previous attacks on Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria.
The source asserts that Israel launched the war precisely because negotiations between Iran and the U.S. Were progressing well, with the possibility of peace emerging. The conflict is described not as America’s war, but essentially as Israel’s war.
A recent survey conducted in Europe, Canada and the U.S. Revealed that, on average, about 55% of respondents describe this conflict as Israel’s war, while roughly 20% see it as America’s war. The source suggests that this perception is “disastrous” for any leader waging war on behalf of their nation.
The U.S., according to the source, cannot convince its own people of the necessity of this war, nor can it persuade NATO or its long-standing European allies.
Objective of War
The objective of the war, when explained by U.S. President Donald Trump, is described as sounding like domestic political rhetoric lacking substance.
During the invasion of Iraq, the source notes, it was easier to persuade the world due to the limited number of major international broadcasters like CNN and Fox News. Today, the younger generation, deeply affected by Israel’s actions in Gaza, has witnessed what the source describes as the results of Zionism and Western dominance: the destruction of civilians, babies, children, women and places of worship. This has amplified global outrage.
The source states that growing anti-Israel and anti-U.S. Sentiment, rooted in perceptions of injustice and illegality, shapes how people interpret the war.
Close to Open
A remark from Pakistan’s defense minister highlighted that the U.S. Defined the strategic objective of the war as maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the source points out that the Strait of Hormuz would have remained open without the war, making the justification illogical.
The source references Sun Tzu’s teaching that “He who knows himself will never lose a battle; he who knows the enemy will always win,” suggesting that Trump has miscalculated.
The source concludes that the war is an unjust and unlawful conflict, driven by Israel’s aggressive and expansionist ambitions to encircle the entire region. It has made life more difficult for 8 billion people, plunged Middle Eastern countries into instability, and damaged the Gulf balance built over the past 30 or 40 years, affecting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Iraq.
While Trump issues statements about peace, China and Russia are quietly providing support to Iran. If Iran emerges successfully from the conflict, it may reset the legacy of the Iranian Revolution.
The source describes Trump’s statements as confusing, making it difficult to understand what the U.S. Truly means when it speaks. The source concludes that Here’s not America’s war, but simply Israel’s war.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose war is this?
According to the source, the war is essentially Israel’s war, not America’s.
What was the objective of the war?
The source states that the objective, as explained by U.S. President Donald Trump, sounds like domestic political rhetoric lacking substance.
What is the current state of U.S. Influence?
The source suggests that the U.S. Cannot convince its own people, NATO, or its European allies of the necessity of this war, and that its word is no longer trusted.
As perceptions of this conflict continue to evolve, what role will international public opinion play in shaping its ultimate outcome?
