IRAN: Israel’s forces struck Iranian military facilities in Tehran as well as the provinces of Ilam and Khuzestan, which border Iraq, early on Saturday, the latest exchange between Israel and Iran, a shadow war that came to light following the events of October 7, 2013.
Israel’s aggression has been downplayed by Iran, which claims that it caused “limited damage” and that four Iranian troops were killed. It would appear that the extremists in Tel Aviv have heeded American pleas not to strike Iranian nuclear and oil facilities; The entire region would have suffered terrible consequences had these kinds of facilities been attacked.
However, this does not negate the fact that Israel engaged in a highly unacceptable act of infringing on the sovereignty of another nation, and it is regrettable that it has been doing so for decades. Israel has acknowledged the attack, which was intended as retaliation for Iran’s Oct. 2 missile barrage against the Zionist state. The Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah prompted that Iranian action.
Global calls for de-escalation have followed Israel’s attack. Iran has been warned in vain by the US and UK not to target Israel again. The attacks have been condemned by Pakistan and Iran’s Arab neighbors, and the Foreign Office stated that “Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation.” Additionally, the Pentagon has reiterated the United States’ “ironclad” commitment to Israel’s security.
However, Iran believes it cannot leave its “Axis of Resistance” allies alone when they are fighting Israel. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that Israel was executing Iranian scientists and generals long before the Hamas operations of last year. In addition, the devastating bombing of an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus, widely believed to be Israel’s work, was the impetus for the Iranian missile strikes against Israel in mid-April, the first time Tehran had directly attacked Israel.
The Iranian response to the Israeli provocation will determine the next phase of this geopolitical conflict. Tehran’s foreign ministry has issued a statement that is unclear, stating that the Islamic Republic wanted “regional peace” but was “entitled… to defend itself.” The US and UK, Israel’s closest allies in the West, have used the argument that Israel has the right to defend itself to justify the atrocities committed by their ally. Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen also have the right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression, according to this logic. In particular, the Palestinian public have a right not to be butchered by Israel.
The international community must demand an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israel’s aggression in Lebanon if it is serious about de-escalation in the region. The ongoing regional conflict will only get worse without this.
