The World's Attention Turns to Iran
Israel ponders its response as much of the world denounces Iran's missile attack
A week ago, it seemed like the whole world was turning on Israel. The news was full of angry comments by leaders and officials of Israel’s closest allies, while the UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, gravely announced her opinion that Israel was likely committing genocide in Gaza. Joe Biden’s friend, chef Jose Andres, was holding forth on the laws of armed combat and tweeting to his one million followers that Israel was using hunger as a weapon of war.
Israel jumped into action, in response to American threats, to meet the demands of President Biden, and announced plans to “flood Gaza with aid”. Israelis also braced themselves for Iran’s response to an IAF air strike that killed some very senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leaders. The death of these terrorist leaders was a severe blow to the IRGC, a terrorist army that reports directly to Iran’s supreme leader and operates independently of the Iranian armed forces.
Iran angrily denounced Israel for attacking a building on the grounds of an Iranian consulate in Damascus, claiming this amounted to an attack on Iran’s sovereign territory. Leaving aside the hypocrisy that these words came from a regime which has attacked both American and Israeli embassies in the past, this complaint also ignores the fact that Iran is at war with Israel, and that attacks on the sovereign territory of an enemy are what war is all about.
Image: Portrait of assassinated IRGC General Mohammed Reza Zehadi in Tehran with inscription in Hebrew: “You will be punished” — Source (ATTA KENARE / AFP)
Iran has tried to obscure its war on Israel by funding proxies such as the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as armed groups in Syria and Iraq, but we know they have been heavily involved in attacks on Israel for decades. Notably, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, one of two IRGC generals killed in Israel’s air strike on Damascus, was a key figure in planning the October 7 invasion of Israel by Hamas. We know this from the tributes published about him by the Iranians as well as from Israeli reports at the time of the attack in Damascus.
Then, on Saturday night, Iran launched a massive drone and missile attack on Israel and it was as though the world changed over night. The global press coverage was suddenly all about Iran’s disproportionate attack on Israel in response to the Israeli attack in Damascus. Joe Biden issued a statement emphasizing America’s iron clad guarantee to defend Israel from an Iranian attack. Even more encouraging: a long planned air defense alliance which includes a number of Israel’s Arab neighbours kicked into action and worked amazingly well.
Jordan’s air force shot down drones and cruise missiles that were crossing its territory. The Saudis and Emiratis reportedly provided tracking information on the drones and cruise missiles, and the Iraqis allowed American fighters to operate in their air space. CNN reported that American naval forces shot down 70 drones and 3 ballistic missiles. The Saudis acknowledged helping thwart the Iranian attack on Israel.
The onslaught against Israel was similar to (but larger than) the missile attacks Russia has been deploying against Ukraine for the past two years. In Ukraine, these attacks have had a devastating effect, killing thousands and repeatedly disabling vital infrastructure.
The combination of killer drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, all timed to arrive simultaneously, was designed to overwhelm the Israeli air defenses and destroy the Nevatim Air base, the home of Israel’s advanced F-35 war planes. In the event, five Iranian ballistic missiles got through Israel’s air defenses and struck near the base, but caused no serious damage or casualties. Many of the F-35’s were in the air shooting down the Iranian drones. A seven year old Israeli girl remains in the hospital with life altering injuries caused by falling debris, from an intercepted Iranian missile.
The effectiveness of the defense was such that the Israeli leadership reportedly agreed to call off a response that would have occurred during the Iranian raid. One commentator is claiming that only divine help could have enabled the level of success demonstrated by the forces defending Israel last Saturday night. Since then, the United States has been lobbying hard for Israel to treat the highly effective defense as a win.
Israel’s security cabinet has met several times and reportedly agreed on the nature of Israel’s retaliation, but not on the timing. The German and French foreign ministers have traveled to Israel for urgent discussions on avoiding an escalation that will result in a regional war. Israel’s Arab neighbours also expressed concern about being drawn into war if Israel retaliates, and a reporter on Times of Israel Daily Briefing reported that Israel reassured them any action they take would not implicate them.
As I wrote in my previous article, Israel has its hands full with hostilities in Gaza and in the north and now is not a good time for it to get into a full scale war with a Iran, especially given the reluctance of the US and other powers to join such a war on Israel’s side. I do think Israel should take advantage of the shift in world sentiment to try to achieve its war aims in Gaza and in the north.
In Gaza, this must include ensuring that Hamas does not govern Gaza after the war is over. Achieving this goal will require the help of outside powers, and perhaps the renewed sense of common purpose in the wake of Iran’s failed attack can be used to advance concrete plans to ensure that Gaza emerges from the war under an administration that will no longer threaten Israel.
In the north it means that Hezbollah must pull back from Israel’s northern border behind the Litani River, as they were meant to do under the terms of Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2006, and UN Security Council resolution 1701. Israel has continued to inflict harm on Hezbollah in the days since the Iranian attack and there are signs that they are preparing for renewed action in Gaza as well.
We are busy with pre-Passover chores in my household and anticipating a somber seder observance with empty seats at our table for our people still held captive in Gaza. We will continue to pray that their redemption will come soon, even as we celebrate the ancient feast marking our liberation from Egyptian bondage.
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Thanks again, David for a very good read.
I feel like we are trying to take a robust, enthusiastic and quick-to-action IDF and have them behave like they are learning to tightrope walk using slow, small steps. What a feat, if they can restrain themselves according to world leaders' bidding.