As a fragile ceasefire takes hold between Hamas and Israel following more than two years of devastating conflict in Gaza, Iranian analysts are questioning whether any party can claim victory in a war that has reshaped the Middle East and left unprecedented destruction in its wake. The agreement, which includes provisions for prisoner exchanges and a halt to hostilities, has sparked intense debate about the strategic outcomes for all parties involved in what became a multi-front regional confrontation.
According to Jomhouri-e Eslami, an influential Iranian newspaper, while the cessation of bloodshed represents a welcome development, the conflict's consequences extend far beyond the Gaza Strip. The publication's editorial notes that what began as Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023, evolved into a complex regional war involving not only Hamas and Israel but also Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
The newspaper presents a stark assessment of the conflict's toll. Gaza has suffered catastrophic losses, with approximately 80 percent of buildings destroyed along with all critical infrastructure. The publication cites figures of nearly 68,000 Palestinians killed, including men, women, and children, with approximately 200,000 injured and virtually the entire population displaced. The assassination of several Hamas leaders compounds these losses, representing what the editorial describes as irreplaceable damage to Palestinian resistance infrastructure.
Beyond Gaza's borders, the editorial identifies Syria's withdrawal from what Iran terms the "anti-Zionist front" as one of the war's most significant consequences. The country's absorption into American and Israeli spheres of influence represents a dramatic shift in regional power dynamics that Iranian analysts directly attribute to the October 7 operation and its aftermath.
Lebanon also figures prominently in the loss column. The death of approximately 4,000 Lebanese, including Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, represents what the newspaper calls "the greatest loss to the anti-Zionist front in the Arab world." The subsequent formation of a Lebanese government aligned with the United States and Israel allegedly nullifies decades of efforts to keep the country outside Western influence.
Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, which launched maritime operations in solidarity with Gaza, also suffered casualties and material losses. Iran itself absorbed significant damage during what the editorial describes as a "12-day war imposed by Israel and the United States," including the martyrdom of 1,100 Iranians, among them military commanders and scientists, and attacks on nuclear facilities.
Regarding Israel, the editorial acknowledges that while the regime failed to achieve its stated objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing all hostages through military means, it now seeks to accomplish these goals diplomatically. The country has faced international condemnation, with its leaders subject to International Criminal Court proceedings, and suffered what Iran describes as unprecedented losses in confrontations with Iranian forces.
However, Jomhouri-e Eslami expresses skepticism about whether Israel will honor its commitments to withdraw from Gaza and cease hostilities after prisoner releases are completed. The newspaper cites the historical record of broken agreements by the United States and Israel as grounds for doubt.
The editorial concludes that identifying a clear winner remains impossible given the immense losses suffered by all parties. Only time will reveal whether any strategic advantage emerged from the conflict's devastation.
Publisher's Note: Jomhouri-e Eslami serves as one of the Islamic Republic of Iran's principal media outlets, functioning as a semi-official voice reflecting the perspectives of the country's conservative establishment and providing insight into Iranian governmental views on regional and international affairs.