Washington: A former senior United States military adviser has issued a stark warning about the ongoing war involving Israel and Iran. Colonel Douglas McGregor, a decorated combat veteran and former adviser to the US Secretary of Defense, said the conflict risks reshaping the balance of power in the Middle East and weakening American influence.
McGregor stated that Israel faces a grave strategic situation if the war continues. He argued that Iran’s response has exceeded Western expectations and expanded the conflict across the region within days.
According to his assessment, Iranian strikes targeted at least 27 military bases and installations across the Middle East, stretching from Turkey to the Gulf. These attacks disrupted infrastructure including ports, oil facilities, and airports. Several runways and civilian airports in the United Arab Emirates went out of service after drone strikes.
Energy markets reacted quickly. European oil markets opened with prices rising by 20 percent amid fears of supply disruption. McGregor predicted oil prices would climb beyond 100 dollars per barrel if the conflict persists.
He also highlighted economic consequences for the Gulf region. Millions of foreign residents remain stranded as aviation disruptions spread. Large Indian business networks operating in the Emirates face operational shutdowns.
McGregor said the United States entered the war after Israel launched an initial unilateral strike. He warned that Washington now faces a prolonged war of attrition with Iran, a scenario he believes American planners did not anticipate.
The colonel also questioned the effectiveness of existing missile defense systems. He said Iranian missiles equipped with decoys bypass interception attempts and strike strategic targets.
McGregor concluded that Iran only needs to survive the conflict to claim strategic advantage. A prolonged war, he said, weakens the global image of the United States and Israel while strengthening Iran’s regional position.
