• ‘Iran made a big mistake’, Netanyahu says after Iran launches 180 missiles against Israel
• A Mossad headquarters was almost hit by Iranian rocket.
Iran has attacked Israel for the second time this year, launching 180 missiles towards Israel.
Yesterday, after diplomacy in the UN seemed to have failed in repelling Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, Iran launched a missile attack on Israel.
Iran claims that the majority of the 180 missiles launched had hit, but Israel and the US deny the claim and say the majority of missiles had been intercepted.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: “There were a small number of hits in the centre of Israel and other hits in Southern Israel.
“The majority of the incoming missiles were intercepted by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States.”
He later said: “Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences.
“Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest levels of readiness. Our operational plans are ready.
“We will respond wherever, whenever, and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel.”
Iran, on the other hand, has warned against an escalation and has been quick to iterate its response to an Israeli retaliation.
The Iranians have also highlighted that the reason for their attack was linked to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, former head of Hamas, in their territory, along with the killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, a key ally to Iran.
One of the missiles hitting Israel landed relatively close to Israel’s Mossad headquarters.
What was different between this attack and Iran’s last attack in April?
In April, Iran gave ample warning time to the US and its allies about their plan to attack Israel, while this time Iran gave far less warning and the US only reported of the incoming strike on the same day it happened.
This meant that the US and its allies had less time to prepare and defend against an Iranian attack and thus implies Iran has indeed been wanting to show the US and its allies that they are willing to take a more aggressive and firmer posture.
During the last April attack, the Iranians launched drones that took hours to reach Israel, thus making it easier to intercept and shoot down.
Iran launched multiple drones and missiles in April against Israel, but gave ample warning before doing so while telling US allies about the nature of the planned attack
This implies that Iran’s attack in April was more of a symbolic gesture to fix its image with its allies and its domestic audience.
It cannot be denied that the attack in April and yesterday was somewhat limited, as Iran has thousands of missiles in its missile stockpile and only chose to launch a certain amount.
US and UK helped defend against Iranian missiles
The United States has said it helped Israel thwart the Iranian ballistic missile attack, with a senior White House official telling reporters that the US military “coordinated closely” with its Israeli counterparts to shoot down the projectiles.
Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said that Biden had “directed the US military to aid Israel’s defence against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel”.
The Pentagon also said in a statement that Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant had discussed “the severe consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel”.
The US and Israel’s claims of ‘severe consequences’ may well be adding more flame to the fire and could mean that the US is now no longer afraid to climb the escalatory ladder against Iran even if it were to result in a regional war.
It does not make sense for America to continue to provide weapons to Israel when Israel have committed war crimes after war crimes.
Israel was the main instigator that has led to the Middle East becoming this close to the brink of regional war.
