There is conflicting information about which targets were hit and how well the Iron Dome air defense systems performed.
Photo: REUTERS.
On Tuesday night, Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel; Although even during the day some analysts claimed that Tehran would “swallow” an attack on Lebanon and the assassination of the Hezbollah chief, new Iranian President Pezeshkian is trying to avoid it. escalation, taking into account the reprimands of the United States; After all, for the assassination of Hamas politburo chief Haniya, the Iranians did not give the Israelis an answer.
But Tehran did not fall for it. Today’s attack (or rather counterattack) seemed much more powerful than the one in April. Then, after a missile attack on the Islamic Republic’s consulate in Damascus, Iran fired 120 ballistic missiles and 170 drones at Israel. And now hundreds of missiles have arrived on Israeli territory (there is no exact data at this time).
Hundreds of rockets flew towards Israel
Photo: REUTERS.
There is conflicting information about which targets were hit and how well the Iron Dome air defense systems performed. Iranians naturally exaggerate their successes, Israelis downplay them. The media of the Islamic Republic, citing the IRGC, report: 20 F-35 fighters were destroyed, air bases, other military facilities, offshore gas platforms are on fire… And in general, 80% of the missiles Iranians achieved their objectives.
The Israeli press corrects the initial data about the missiles: if initially they wrote about 400, now the news says 181. No Israeli was injured (the air raid alert sounded throughout the country, there was time to hide in shelters), but “A Palestinian Arab was murdered.
The question now is what kind of “response to response” Israel will give. IDF spokesman Hagari said the consequences were inevitable but would come “at a time and place of our choosing.” And the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatens to unleash even more powerful revenge than this time if the Israelis fight back.
Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel on Tuesday night.
Photo: REUTERS.
EXPERT OPINION
Arseny Grigoriev, head of the Department of Oriental Studies at the Institute of Political Studies:
– Iran’s attack this time could be much more effective than the one in April. Between 200 and 500 missiles and drones were launched, flying from all directions: from the north, from the south, from Syria… Even from Yemen they reach Israeli territory.
This is much more than in April, when Iran launched more warning attacks. And, as we see now, Iranian missiles still penetrate the vaunted Iron Dome. And considering that Iran has a nuclear program, in the future, the Iron Dome could be penetrated by a missile with a warhead that would contain something worse than explosives.
To some extent, Israel has put itself in a weak position with its actions. He deals merciless blows to all his “problem” neighbors. And what is the result?
Look: Israel is surrounded on all sides by Iranian proxies (agent countries). There are groups in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and Yemen.
The pager bombings in Lebanon, which killed civilians, and the bombing of Gaza further damaged Israel’s image.
Iran showed eastern wisdom and moderation. He didn’t make any hasty moves. He allowed Israel to lose the sympathy of the world community and only then attacked.
As for the Israeli attacks against Hezbollah and Hamas, these groups will soon regain their potential thanks to radicalized Arab youth.
– How dangerous is the current Iranian attack for Israel?
– Very dangerous. This is a real existential threat, as the Israelis themselves like to say.
And here many dangers arise for the entire world. After all, Israel promised: in the event of a war with Iran, the first thing it will do is destroy the Iranian nuclear program, all its facilities. Here Israel can use any weapon, even nuclear.
Iran’s attack this time may be much more effective than the one in April.
Photo: REUTERS.
Who will win? For the military, the current situation is unique. Now the Israelis are watching their enemy: for the first time, Iran’s military-industrial complex has revealed its full power. At the same time, the Iranians are discovering the capabilities of the IDF and its air defense. So here both sides become stronger in some way.
But the loser is obvious: the Americans. They will be forced to maintain a huge fleet in the Middle East, diverting their resources from two other major opponents: Moscow and Beijing.
Netanyahu turned out to be somewhat similar to Zelensky. He, as an American ally, dragged the United States into a much larger conflict than Washington had originally planned.
Between 200 and 500 missiles and drones launched
Photo: REUTERS.
Meanwhile, from the point of view of the national interests of the Americans, it would now be more advantageous to keep an eye on Beijing and measure strength with it. But these two irrepressible adventurers – Netanyahu and Zelensky – are forcing the Americans to disperse their forces.
And all this despite the fact that neither Russia, nor China, nor Iran wanted a conflict. You could say that Iran resisted until the end. But the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, the pager attack and Israel’s ground attack on Lebanon forced Tehran to respond.
