Israel Claims Victory on Seven Fronts, But Reality Shows No Clear Wins

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Israel has achieved victory on seven fronts and is stronger than ever. However, the article contends that the reality is starkly different, with key objectives in ongoing conflicts remaining unmet. Agreements with Lebanon and Gaza, intended to disarm Hezbollah and Hamas respectively, have not been implemented. Similarly, the stated war aims against Iran have not been achieved, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting a lack of knowledge regarding the location and quantity of enriched uranium in Iran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are currently operating 39 reserve battalions, facing significant personnel shortages.

Netanyahu previously addressed the UN in September about the "war on seven fronts" that began after the October 7th massacre, encompassing conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, against the Houthis, pro-Iranian militias in Iraq, and in Judea and Samaria. He and other coalition figures, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have claimed "fantastic results" and "tremendous achievements." Despite operational successes by the IDF over the past three years, the article argues that none of these fronts can be defined as a "victory." No significant political achievements have been recorded, and in some cases, agreements are not being fulfilled or were never signed.

The article details the lack of progress in Gaza, where the disarming of Hamas has not occurred since an ceasefire agreement in October 2025. A Palestinian committee and an international stabilization force were meant to oversee the disarmament and transfer of civilian control, but Hamas's resistance, coupled with opposition from Israeli right-wing ministers, has stalled these efforts. Consequently, the IDF remains entrenched in Gaza, with its control expanding to approximately 67% of the Strip.

In Lebanon, a ceasefire agreement signed in Washington in June, brokered by the US, stipulated Hezbollah's disarmament and the Lebanese army's assumption of security responsibility. While the agreement began with a small pilot zone, Hezbollah's refusal to disarm and the Lebanese army's inability to enforce it have halted further implementation. The IDF continues to hold a buffer zone up to 10 kilometers deep into Lebanon, and analysts note that Hezbollah's military capabilities have not been neutralized.

Regarding Iran, the article states that neither Israel nor the US has achieved the declared goals of recent conflicts, such as the "Operation Dog of the Lion" in June 2025 and "Operation Lion's Roar" in February. Despite tactical successes, the Iranian regime has survived, its missile program and nuclear project remain intact, and Iran has gained leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. The IAEA's September report highlights the agency's inability to track Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, estimated at 440.9 kg as of June 2025.

The IDF is reportedly operating 89 active battalions, including 39 reserve battalions, and is suffering from a severe shortage of soldiers. The ongoing conflicts have incurred immense costs for Israel, including delayed hostage releases, hundreds of soldiers' lives lost, civilian casualties, widespread destruction, billions in financial costs, and significant damage to foreign relations. The article questions what, if anything, Israel has gained from these prolonged military engagements.