Iran attacks Israel: Details of the missile attack and Israel's response
Iran launches a direct attack on Israel
In a significant development and a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, Israel announced that it had detected the launch of dozens of missiles and drones from Iranian territory directly toward its territory. Israeli media reported that air defense systems, in cooperation with international allies, successfully intercepted two Iranian missiles over northern Israel, while sirens sounded in the Galilee, the Golan Heights, and the northern coast, sending residents scrambling for shelter.
Background of the conflict and context of the attack
This direct Iranian attack, the first of its kind launched from Iranian soil against Israel, comes in response to an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Iranian consulate building in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on April 1, 2024. That strike killed several senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, including General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, an act Tehran considered a crossing of red lines and a violation of its sovereignty, vowing retaliation. For decades, Iran and Israel have waged what is known as a “shadow war,” conducted through proxies in the region or through covert operations, assassinations, and cyberattacks. However, this attack represents a strategic shift toward direct and open confrontation.
Details of the Israeli response and American moves
Simultaneously with the Iranian attack, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that it had launched a "preemptive strike" against targets in Iran, without specifying their exact nature. Eyewitnesses and journalists in Tehran reported hearing loud explosions in the capital and other cities. Meanwhile, media reports indicated that the United States had launched counter-strikes against targets in Iran, reaffirming its commitment to Israel's security. The Israeli Defense Minister declared a "special and immediate alert" across the country, and "extremely serious" warnings were sent to residents' mobile phones, reflecting the heightened state of alert in Israel.
The importance and potential effects of escalation
This escalation carries extremely serious repercussions on both the regional and international levels. Regionally, it opens the door to the possibility of a large-scale war between two major regional powers, which could draw other countries in the region into the conflict and threaten the stability of vital shipping lanes and global energy markets. Internationally, the attack has sparked widespread concern, with the United Nations and numerous world powers, including the European Union, China, and Russia, calling for maximum restraint and urging all parties to avoid sliding into a full-blown war. World capitals are watching closely the next moves of both Tehran and Tel Aviv, as any miscalculation by either side could have catastrophic consequences extending far beyond the Middle East.
