Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • US-Israel-Iran
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • Western Hemisphere
    • NATO
    • China
    • Syria
  • Analysis
    • Research
    • Q&A
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / Israel / Israel completes retaliatory military strikes in Iran; US says it wasn’t involved
Israel, Iran, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East

October 25, 2024

Israel completes retaliatory military strikes in Iran; US says it wasn’t involved

Rosemary Kelanic, Middle East director at Defense Priorities, a Washington think tank that argues for a smaller global U.S. military footprint, said that surging more U.S. troops to the region recently has “only encouraged Israel’s brinkmanship and raised the risk of a war with Iran that serves no U.S. interest.”

Kelanic said that “if the past 20 years of failed policy have taught us nothing else, conflict in the Middle East is quicksand. The more the U.S. fights it, the deeper we are drawn in.”

Read at USA Today

Featuring

Rosemary
Kelanic

Director, Middle East Program

Defense Priorities

More on Middle East

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Israel‑Iran, Middle East

Weakened by war, Iran hits back by strangling a vital waterway

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

March 13, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Seven reasons why Trump hasn’t won the Iran war

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

March 12, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Israel, Israel‑Iran, Middle East

Why does the war with Iran threaten the global economy?

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

March 12, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

CVA Hosted Panel: The Iran Conflict Explained

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

March 11, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

IEA Announces Largest Ever Global Strategic Petroleum Reserves Release

Featuring Rosemary Kelanic

March 11, 2026

Op-edUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Is an Off-Ramp With Iran Possible?

By Daniel DePetris

March 10, 2026

Events on Israel

See All Events
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Alliances, Diplomacy, Israel, Military analysis

Assessing a formal U.S.-Saudi alliance

October 17, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • Research
  • Experts
  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2026 Defense Priorities Foundation. All rights reserved.