The claim emerges during a period of extreme regional instability. According to reports from N12 and Maariv in mid-May 2026, there is high military alertness regarding whether an attack on Iran could trigger a broader global conflict. Expert analysis provided by Dr. Moshe Elad in Maariv suggests that the question is no longer if a war will break out, but rather what its scope will be. This atmosphere of inevitability likely contributes to social media posts framing the situation as an imminent 'third war.'
Historical data from 2025 shows that a 'Twelve-Day War' took place between June 13 and June 24, 2025, involving direct strikes between Israel, the United States, and Iran. This conflict ended with a ceasefire mediated by Donald Trump and Qatar. Current 2026 reports describe a '2026 Iran war' or a 'shadow war' involving Saudi Arabia and the UAE attacking Iranian territory. Because a major conflict occurred in 2025 and another is described as ongoing or building in 2026, the 'third war' label is a matter of chronological interpretation rather than a specific, verified quote from a Channel 12 news bulletin.
Furthermore, N12 has published interviews with Iranian citizens in cities like Mashhad and Tehran who expressed a desire for a military strike to end the current regime's grip, indicating that the 'expectation' of war is a recurring theme in Channel 12's reporting. However, without a direct official statement from the Israeli government or a specific timestamped broadcast confirming a new declaration of war, the claim remains an interpretation of existing high-tension reporting.
Source quality: The evidence includes recent news reports from N12 and Maariv dated May 13-16, 2026, which provide contemporary context. It also includes Wikipedia entries detailing a 2025 conflict, which helps clarify the 'third war' numbering, though a direct transcript of the specific Channel 12 claim is missing.
