From Missiles to Messages: How Israel Employs Psychological Warfare in Its Conflict With Iran |
Competition between Israel and Iran is one of the most defining and unstable fault lines in Middle Eastern geopolitics. It has traditionally involved military strikes, proxy wars, and nuclear brinkmanship, with both states investing heavily in conventional and unconventional warfare capabilities. Recently, Israel has been revamping its conflict strategy against Iran. It no longer relies primarily on missiles and kinetic operations but instead turns to psychological operations and strategic communications. Contemporary wars, in this view, are fought less on battlefields and more in the minds of populations. This article critically analyzes Israel’s growing reliance on psychological operations against Iran. It examines the dynamics, intentions, and consequences of this strategic shift while situating Israel’s communication campaigns within the broader framework of information warfare.
The military operations conducted by Israel, like targeted attacks on Iranian nuclear weapons development and intelligence facilities, have traditionally focused on deterrence and destruction. However, recent operations indicate that it has two-fold motives, not only to undermine the military strength of Iran but also to deliver symbolic messages to the people of Iran. As an illustration, the attack on the state broadcasters and internal security headquarters was meant to destabilize the regime, as its credibility would be undermined to derail the dissent.
Israeli officials like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have openly indicated that 80% of the population of Iran would oppose their rule in an opportunity, an indicator that Israel intends to use the feeling of dissatisfaction among people. The strategic reset in Israel is evidence of a calculated shift from physical destruction to psychological disruption that Israel seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the Supreme Leader with........