Israel, along with its allies, blocked the rain of drones and missiles from Iran: “We will prevail”

After one of the most dramatic nights in its history on the occasion of Iran’s first direct attack, Israel reopened its airspace, while on the ground it carried out two strategic concepts and integral to its security concept: defense and attack. Argued. The defensive shield created as a result of missiles fired by Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War was quite successful in testing, but its immunity was not enough to prevent its great enemy from fulfilling its promise of avenging the deaths on its own territory of seven Revolutionary Guard officers in Damascus two weeks ago.

While its citizens left shelters and sealed rooms without knowing whether they were at the end or the beginning of an unprecedented escalation, Israel highlighted with pride and satisfaction that “the Iranian threat has transformed into technological superiority in the air and in the military.” went” and praised its defensive systems and fighter aircraft and its allies Led by the United States which deployed a nearly airtight umbrella to stop the unprecedented rain of drones and missiles. A 7-year-old Bedouin girl was seriously injured by missile shrapnel in the Negev desert, and approximately 330 suicide drones, cruise missiles, and a limited number of ballistic missiles caused minor damage to Nevatim Airport.

The Israeli Cabinet is studying the form and timing of its response, taking into account both the desire of its great ally (the US) to de-escalate tensions and the desire to continue the war in the Gaza Strip – which has not been possible even after six months Hamas did not release 133 abducted people who are still in captivity – and an exchange of blows occurred with the Lebanese militia Hezbollah – in a bid to destroy the Islamist group. On the other hand, many believe that such a large-scale Iranian attack cannot be unanswered in the same way that Tehran came to the conclusion that it had to use force against several of its Revolutionary Guard leaders in the consulate in Damascus. There will be a reaction to the attack. Israel, which neither confirms nor denies the April 1 bombing, insists it was not a diplomatic accusation.

Tehran’s decision to attack Israel for the first time directly, rather than through its militias in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Gaza and Yemen, puts Israel in a dilemma, which was addressed at a war cabinet meeting late this Sunday. Will go. Early in the morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Minister benny gantz He received the power to decide the time and place of response without the need for a new meeting. the latter said so “Iran is a problem not only for Israel but for the entire world.”To indicate that the response will not be immediate: “In the face of the threat from Iran, we will build a regional coalition and demand a price from Iran in the form and at the time that best suits us.” Ultranationalist minister Bezalel Smotrish, on the other hand, calls for “an immediate response so that Israel is not put into existential danger.”

Netanyahu-Biden talks

“We have stopped, we have stopped. Together we will win,” Netanyahu wrote in an early morning response to the X Network. An explosive maze with no way out, the Gaza Strip is in hell and the region is on the brink of the abyss.

In a crucial telephone conversation with Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden recalls the success of neutralization and recommends prevention, In other words, do not respond, and if you do, it will be without American involvement. The desire to maintain close cooperation with the United States is fundamental to understanding the type of retaliation Israel may decide to pursue. The leaders’ dilemma is whether to give priority to the outcome of the Iranian attack (failure according to the Israelis and Americans) or to the intent and precedent of the attack itself.

The success of various defensive layers (Iron Dome, jets, fighter jets, etc.) gives the cabinet more peace of mind in taking decisions, Without deaths or massive damage, there is no urgency and pressure to respond, After images of the interception, including the flash, went viral over the esplanade of the mosques in Jerusalem, the army’s spokesman, Daniel Hagari, described the most complicated night for its anti-aircraft defense: “We block 99% of threats against Israel, This is a very important strategic achievement. None of the 170 drones and more than 30 cruise missiles entered Israeli airspace. Of the more than 120 ballistic missiles, only a few entered Israel and fell on the Nevatim base, causing minor damage to the infrastructure without affecting its operations.” This air force base was one of Iran’s key objectives.

According to Hagari, who warned that the use and quantity of ballistic missiles was worsening the situation, he praised the decisive contributions of the US, the United Kingdom and “partners in the region”. In this sense, Jordanian pilots intercepted explosive devices headed towards Israel But he did so specifically to protect his public space.

From the last drone launched some 1,700 kilometers away, Iran’s message to Israel is that the response “was more successful than expected” and The account opened in Damascus has been closed, but can be reopened upon receipt of a reply, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi confirmed the chief’s previous message, saying, “Retaliation has been taken against the aggressor (…) If the Zionist regime or its followers show reckless behavior, they will receive a decisive and very strong response.” Army Staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri said, “If Israel retaliates against Iran, our response will be much stronger than tonight’s military action.”

Iran briefly but dramatically deviated from the philosophy of avoiding direct confrontation and relying on the “Ring of Fire” promoted by al-Quds chief Qassem Soleimani. Killed in a US selective strike in Badgad 4 years ago, Soleimani did not live to see his project come to fruition: encircling the Jewish state with hundreds of thousands of projectiles and associated militias who, if necessary, act together. Israel, for its part, carried out hundreds of strikes against the said group, particularly against arms shipments to Hezbollah in Syria and against covert operations to destroy or delay the country’s nuclear plan, which it calls ” Is, aspires to destroy. Zionist entity.”

Since October 7, Israel has increased the intensity of strikes and the range of Iranian targets in Syria, reaching Brigadier General and head of Al Quds in that country and Lebanon Mohammad Reza Zahedi two weeks ago. This was a red line for Iran.