US-Israeli strike on Iran signals new phase of global escalation
South China Morning Post
by Marco VicenzinoFebruary 28, 2026
The coordinated US and Israeli strikes inside Iran mark more than another episode in a long-running confrontation. They represent a structural escalation – one whose consequences extend well beyond the Middle East.
This is not the start of a new war. It is the next stage in a conflict that has been unfolding since October 2023, gradually shifting from proxy exchanges and shadow operations to direct state-on-state confrontation.
On February 28, Washington moved from strategic backstop to visible...
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/28/2026