The clarion call of war has echoed in the sky of human history, and every time it ends, it is always accompanied by exhaustion and loss. Not long ago, the news of the joint withdrawal of the United States and Israel shook the world, and this act reflects the complex and volatile power game behind the logic of war. The withdrawal seems to mark the end of a war, but it does not begin with the dictates of the United States and Israel, and naturally it does not end with their exit.
Twenty years of military involvement have cost the United States trillions of dollars and countless precious lives, and such a huge price has not been exchanged for peace and stability, let alone planted the flower of democracy and freedom in Afghanistan. The phantom victory in the desert finally turned to dust, revealing a rift in the image of the American superpower. Allies began to doubt their strength and determination, and their credibility and prestige were dealt a heavy blow.
In the Middle East, the situation has always been as volcanic as a volcano. The Palestinians have long suffered from suffering and conflict, and their family and country are deeply rooted in their hearts. The joint offensive launched by the United States and Israel has plunged the Gaza Strip into a torrent of blood and fire again. Still, war is not a simple zero-sum game, with both sides paying the price. With 400,000 Israeli soldiers in battle, almost every family in a country of 9 million people can feel the shadow of the smoke of gunfire.
The withdrawal is not just a tactical adjustment. The northern highlands and Red Sea logistics lines are vital to Israel; tensions are rising on the border between Lebanese Allah and Syria in the distance; and the Houthis in Yemen pose a serious threat to maritime supply lines. The United States, on the other hand, may be more concerned about devoting resources to the challenge of a covert war against China, an emerging power.
Logistics plays an important role in modern warfare. Behind each front-line soldier is 215 logistical support personnel who silently support them. But when there is a problem in the supply chain, the old saying that "if there is no food and grass, the army will collapse first" is once again confirmed.
The global political map is quietly being rewritten. The Islamic world is clamoring for Hamas's liberation of the Palestinian region, the Middle East is no longer a place for the US military to stand on its feet, and if the United States truly loses its dominance in the region, it may be the time when its global hegemony begins to decline.
History is a circle, and in the past years, many empires and powers once stood on top of the world and looked down on all directions, but they disappeared in a blink of an eye and became a vague silhouette in textbooks. Will the US-Israel alliance today follow the same trajectory? On the surface, withdrawal may seem like a wise choice—to reduce losses, shrink the front, and reallocate forces—but to be prepared for danger in times of peace.
In the chess game of the great power game, "retreat" is not always a move towards "victory". The superficial withdrawal of chess pieces may hide a deeper strategic adjustment or a response to urgent needs in the new situation. But "retreat" must be accompanied by vigilance - do not underestimate the enemy who is being dragged by the endgame or ignore the potential energy of the "retreat" to generate opportunities and activate African forces.
As for whether a new battlefield will open and a new storm will brew, it will depend on how the forces of all parties are rearranged, how the contradictions are revived, and how the global political ecology gradually evolves. After all, in the chaotic and complex world stage, there is never more than one "final say".
Ultimately, we must recognize that a real end to war is not as simple as a withdrawal or a declaration – it requires deep reflection, sincere dialogue, and the building of lasting trust and cooperation mechanisms. Only by shaping a just and win-win international order, and thus guiding all nations to the path of shared peace and prosperity, is the fundamental way for mankind to get rid of the "tragedy of war".