Israel’s military campaign against Iran has exposed the chasm between China’s great power rhetoric and its ability to meaningfully shape events in the Middle East. To be sure, Beijing backs Tehran as its biggest buyer of sanctioned crude oil, and both describe their relationship as a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Yet …

Latest Developments Nuclear-Related Facilities Destroyed: The IDF reported striking Iran’s SPND headquarters in Tehran for a second time this week in addition to sites related to Iran’s production of ballistic missiles and internal security. The SPND, established by the architect of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in 2011, oversees …

Hezbollah was supposed to be Tehran’s insurance policy if Israel contemplated attacking Iran — the group’s massive arsenal either deterring the Israelis or, failing that, acting as the Islamic Republic’s first line of response. But so far, even after the intense bombardment of Iranian targets as part of Operation Rising …