Is World War III Already Underway? Aftermath of “Midnight Hammer”
As the world reels from the unprecedented U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, political scientist Anton Kuchukhidze, an expert at the United Ukraine think tank, offers a sobering yet clear-eyed assessment of what may come next in his new article for The Gaze.
According to Kuchukhidze, the June 21 U.S. operation codenamed “Midnight Hammer”, which targeted Iranian facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, marks “a turning point in modern geopolitics” — and not just in the Middle East.
In the expert’s words, “Operation Midnight Hammer finally buried the illusion of international law as the basis for global relations.”
He draws a direct line from the world’s passive response to Russian aggression in Georgia and Crimea to today’s reality: military power, not norms, now governs international relations.
Kuchukhidze argues that while the US claims its actions were defensive and limited to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, “this move by the US also undermines its image as a peacemaker,” especially given its track record in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.
He highlights both risks and potential strategic dividends for Ukraine, noting that Iran’s Shahed drone production sites — used by Russia against Ukraine — were likely hit, which could temporarily disrupt Russia’s terror campaign.
However, he warns of a possible reallocation of U.S. military and financial resources away from Ukraine toward Israel and the Middle East.
Perhaps most critically, Kuchukhidze leaves readers with this stark assessment: “Whether this conflict will be the beginning of World War III depends on the further actions of Israel, Iran, Russia, China, and other players.”
Read the full article by Anton Kuchukhidze on The Gaze: Is the World on the Brink of World War III?