Iran Attacks Israel: World War III Trending On X (Image: obamawhitehouse.archives.gov)
As Iran launched a drone and missile strike on Israel, seconds-by-seconds updates on the tensions have started appearing on social media platforms, especially on X, the Elon-Musk owned micro-blogging platform. The updates have been hashtagged under #IranAttack, #IranAttacksIsrael #MiddleEast, #WorldWarIII among others.
“There is a background as to why people have been using World War III as one of the major hashtags. This is due to the geopolitical alignments in the current world structure. The United States, United Kingdom, NATO, and France are closely supporting Israel even after the deadliest assault on Gaza. They have been steadfast allies of Israel for a long time. As tensions rise in West Asia, this coalition is expected to stand firmly behind Israel and support them with all their might.
On the other side, Iran enjoys support from many countries, including Russia, which have either been sanctioned by the West or have historically opposed Israel and supported Palestine. These countries are expected to align with Iran or offer tacit support if a full-fledged war erupts in West Asia. Thus, as these groupings align themselves with either side, people fear a repeat of the groupings seen in World War I or World War II.
China, an influential global player, also holds significance in these alignments.
During World War I (1914-1918), the major alliances were the Allies and the Central Powers. The Allies consisted primarily of France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, later joined by Italy, the United States, and others. The Central Powers were led by Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. These alliances were formed through complex networks of treaties, colonial interests, and historical grievances.
World War II (1939-1945) saw the formation of similar but expanded alliances. The Allies, led by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, also included China, France, and many other nations. The Axis Powers, led by Germany, Italy, and Japan, were formed out of mutual interests in expansionism, militarism, and authoritarianism.
