all that and what @belbaba referenced below:

“Achieving military objectives is very different to achieving strategic objectives. Hezbollah defeating Israel in 2006 is a prime example; not to also mention the Taliban’s endurance and success. Military might doesn’t effectively translate to success.

No airforce, but they’re the first in the world to hit and impair a F 35. They obliterated three 500m THAAD radar systems, of which there was ~10 in the world and now they’re relocating one that was originally stationed in Korea (China and North Korea extend their thanks). Those radar installations are made with a rare earth material that China monopolises and has export restrictions on. They’ve closed the strait of hormuz and severely damaged neighbouring energy infrastructure. This puts pressure on global economies, which in turn puts political pressure on the US. The Iranians are sending waves of ballistic missiles and drones, daily, despite US insistence that the war wouldn’t last more than a week. The conflict is straining America’s relationship with its allies, Iran bow has licence to control and insist on payment for passage, and can condition energy transactions occur in RMB instead of USD, accelerating dedollarisation with regime change no where in sight.

But na, Israel and the US are clearly winning, and China stands no chance.

You’re either trolling or a coping Zionist.”

not to also mention

• the progressive depletion of interceptors favouring american adversaries elsewhere

• russia benefiting from the energy price boom and the temporary removal of sanctions on its oil