Tensions Between Iran And Israel Are Escalating
Tensions between Iran and Israel are escalating. In response to Iran’s massive drone and missile attack, Israel targeted the area around Isfahan, Iran. Iranian state TV said that shortly after midnight “three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan. The air defense system became active and destroyed these drones in the sky.”
Israel had said that they would retaliate against Iran’s weekend attacks. Iran’s attack, which involved hundreds of drones, was itself in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria. Most of the Iranian drones and missiles were downed before reaching Israeli territory.
Analysts have long raised concerns about the Israel Hamas war spreading to the rest of the Middle East. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said before Friday’s strike that Tehran would deliver a “severe response” to any attack on its territory. Officials have been tightlipped about the location and extent of the Israeli strike.
Isfahan, the apparent target of the Israeli strike, is also home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program. This includes its underground Natanz enrichment site. The US and other Israeli allies have urged Netanyahu to exercise restraint in any possible response to Iran.
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Friday that if Israel took further military action, Iran’s response would be “decisive, definitive and regretful for [Israel].” Such bluster is common from the Iranian regime. Time will tell how and when they respond.
Tensions between Iran and Israel are escalating. Will they escalate into a full fledged war between Israel and Iran? It is too early to tell at the moment.
