Ukraine and Israel are fighting different wars, but face the same dangerous reality - opinion

Ukrainians are marking their Independence Day while fighting to preserve it, a reality that has become a daily defense rather than a historical concept. Russia's continued attacks, including missile and drone strikes on cities and civilian infrastructure, have led to a sharp rise in civilian casualties, with July recording the highest number since May 2022.

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For Ukrainians, independence is no longer a historical concept or a date on the calendar. It is something our people defend every day – in the trenches, in our cities, in hospitals and schools, and in homes where parents put their children to sleep knowing that an air-raid siren may wake them before morning.

Israel faces a parallel reality, sharing the experience of being awakened by sirens and seeking shelter with children. While Ukraine and Israel are engaged in distinct conflicts, the article draws a connection through the shared experience of modern warfare's impact on civilian populations. The security threats facing democratic nations are no longer confined within borders, as demonstrated by Russia's multifaceted war against Ukraine and Iran's network of supported actors in the Middle East.

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Ukraine and Israel are fighting different wars, against different enemies and under different circumstances. These differences matter and should not be erased. But there is also a lesson connecting our experiences.

The interconnected nature of international security challenges is highlighted by the rise of the drone. Iranian-designed Shahed drones have become a significant weapon, symbolizing a new era of warfare that combines missiles, cyber operations, disinformation, and infrastructure attacks to exhaust societies. This evolving landscape demands a recognition of shared vulnerabilities and a coordinated response to these transnational threats.

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The security threats facing democratic countries are no longer confined neatly within national borders.