Israel seems ready to respond in a much more forceful and public way with Iran after Tehran launched its second massive missile attack on Israel this year, analysts and officials say.
After Israel invaded Lebanon to confront Iran’s strongest ally, Hezbollah, and Iran’s second massive missile attack on Israel in less than six months, Israel seems ready to strike Iran directly, in a much more forceful and public way than it ever has, and Iran has warned of massive retaliation if it does.
“We are in a different story right now,” said Yoel Guzansky, a former senior security official who oversaw Iran strategy on Israel’s National Security Council. “We have a consensus in Israel — among the military, the defense experts, analysts and politicians — that Israel should respond in force to Iran’s attack.”
To many Israelis, there is now little to lose: Iran’s efforts to strike the urban sprawl around Tel Aviv crossed a threshold that Tehran has never previously breached, even during its earlier missile attack in April, which targeted air bases but not civilian areas.
Who else would enter the war on Iran’s side? It doesn’t have any powerful allies among the other Middle Eastern countries, which rightly perceive it as an ideological rival and a would-be regional hegemon, and its proxies appear to be doing as much as they can already.
I think Iran is vulnerable because it overplayed its hand. Thus a war now may be better than dealing with Iran as a nuclear power later.
I think the lens of a localized, regional war in the Middle East is becoming too narrow. If we’re escalating things to the point of America’s direct and significant involvement (beyond shooting missiles out of the sky, but rather conducting its own attacks on Iran), then I think Iran’s potential allies extend beyond the region as well.
Most likely Russia first, as it’s already in a proxy war with the US/West.
Potentially China, but not likely until it’s most advantageous for them to do so. Or perhaps they’ll enter opportunistically, such as attacking Taiwan if America’s Naval might is sent to the Gulf, opening a potential three front war.
The economic connection between these three has continued to grow in recent years, and may be reason enough.
Russia/China/North Korea could provide cash and weapons, and others who want to run down US resources.
Maybe Syria, but other than that only its proxies. However, nobody will enter on Israel’s side (no middle eastern despot would fight with Israel and survive the week) so yeah.
Perhaps not directly, but if America steps up it’s involvement, they will be relying on their relationships with allies in the region to do so.