Israel Strikes Back At Iran
Israeli retaliation strikes on Iran during the night of 25-26 October 2024, F-16I #494 of 119 Squadron "Bat" at Ramon Airbase prepares for it (Wikimedia Commons)
Israel launched a targeted aerial assault on Iran on October 26. Israeli jets made three sorties into Iranian airspace in as many waves on military targets early in the day. The assault caused notable damage, but did not hit oil rigs or nuclear facilities as some feared it may have.
Israel attacked in retaliation for Iran’s October 1 missile assault on Israel. During that assault, Iran lobbed nearly 200 missiles into Israel’s airspace. However, Israel’s air defense system intercepted the vast majority of them with the aid of U.S. destroyers nearby. That attack was in turn a response to Israel’s assassinations of notable Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Due to the directness of Iran’s attack in early October, Iran had been expecting Israel’s retaliation for some time and preemptively braced itself. The attack has, at the time of writing, killed four Iranian servicemen. Hezbollah has already launched a retaliation of its own, firing 80 missiles towards Israel, with the majority once again getting intercepted.
Iran condemned Israel’s air raid in no uncertain terms. Its foreign ministry said in a statement that Israel’s acts were “a blatant violation of international law.” However, while it did not express any hesitancy about its right to defend itself, which it believes it is “entitled and obligated” to do, the statement did not suggest that Iran would retaliate with a full-blown response.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran stresses the use of all material and spiritual capabilities of the Iranian nation to defend its vital security interests,” the statement said, “while also being cognizant of its responsibilities for regional peace and security.” There were several calls for the international community and UN to act, suggesting hesitancy towards escalation and a desire for diplomacy rather than all-out war.
Israel’s attack, ironically enough, seemed to suggest the same. They intentionally did not strike Iranian oil or nuclear facilities, in what some speculate to be Israel’s attempt to disincentivize yet more retaliation. Iran seemed to acknowledge this, noticing that the Israeli warheads were very light and the attack caused only “limited damage.”
Urging from allies may also have been at play. The United States wants to avoid further escalation, especially in an election year where the war is a weak point for the Biden administration. Secretary of State Antony Blinken just concluded a week-long trip mediating peace talks between Israel and Hamas, hoping to secure a ceasefire before the election. The talks failed and were immediately followed by Israel’s attack, but the attack was also far less severe than it could have been.
The Israeli Defense Force reportedly did notify the United States of the imminent strike. “It looks like they didn’t hit anything other than military targets,” President Biden said while boarding Air Force One. “My hope is this is the end.”