FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
It was vital for the Israelis to demonstrate their combat superiority over Tehran
Israel's alleged counterattack against Iran has proven Joe Biden and David Cameron wrong in their insistence that Israel must "take the win." Instead, he hit back – and yesterday Iran was trying to pretend nothing happened.
This was a deep humiliation for the ayatollahs who only a few days ago said they would punish even the slightest Israeli blow; now they seem to be saying they won't do anything.
To save face, the Iranians are unlikely to admit that any damage was done. For strategic reasons, Israel has not accepted responsibility and therefore has not released an estimate of its damages.
The main target seems to have been Iran's third city, Isfahan, where the Hastam Shikari air force base is located, but also the drone production factory in Isfahan.
Of perhaps greater importance, the city is at the heart of Iran's nuclear program with a research site as well as a processing facility, including stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency has made it clear that no damage was caused to the nuclear site.
Israel's apparent ability to penetrate Iran's most protected sites will have caused great concern in Tehran.
There is a possibility that the nuclear program will be temporarily stopped, so as not to provoke other attacks, until the moment when the defense can be improved.
Perhaps Iran can refrain from further direct attacks against Israel, as it realizes the extent of its vulnerability.
It was vital for Israel to quickly launch a response to Iran's aggression to avoid an impression of weakness in a region where strength is everything.
But among Israel's calculations of how to calibrate its response will have been the need to act on the international defense coalition that was formed last week.
Benjamin Netanyahu would not want to do anything to shake the West's new resolve against Iran, with the G7 announcing sanctions this week.
In its Gaza campaign, the IDF is preparing to launch a major assault on Rafah to deal with the remaining Hamas stronghold and rescue the hostages being held there. This is Israel's number one priority at the moment, and it does not want its military efforts to be diverted by an escalation with Iran.
Yahya Sinar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, wants the opposite. He hopes for a wider conflict as well as international pressure against Israel to save his organization from destruction.
In direct contrast to Iran's failed attack a week earlier, Israel struck without warning, and with Tehran seemingly powerless to stop it. The IDF could have hit much harder. This could only be the first part of a more serious series of attacks, either from the air or using covert forces on the ground, as Jerusalem has previously demonstrated that it has the ability to do so.
Israel has demonstrated its military superiority in the region. The ever-fluctuating West may have been taught a lesson in how to respond to aggression by despotic regimes. /Adapted Pamphlet, taken from The Telegraph
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