Over the weekend, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel, sending more than 300 missiles, cruise missiles, and drones into Israeli territory. While the attack caused no deaths and little damage, it has increased concerns that violence rooted in the Gaza war is spreading, and fears of open war between the long-time foes. As a result, Israel’s war cabinet was set to meet for the third time in three days on Tuesday to decide on an appropriate response.
Military chief of staff Herzi Halevi had promised a response to the attack but gave no details. The United States, Israel’s main protector, has made it clear that it will not participate in an Israeli counter-strike. Instead, together with European allies, Washington is striving to toughen economic and political sanctions in an attempt to persuade Israel to abstain from violent retaliation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz is leading a diplomatic attack, writing to 32 countries to ask them to place sanctions on Iran’s missile program and follow Washington in proscribing its dominant military force, the Revolutionary Guard Corps, as a terrorist group. Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers scheduled a video meeting in the Middle East for Tuesday to discuss further actions.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has promised a response “in a matter of seconds” to any Israeli counterattack, causing alarm among many Iranians already enduring economic pain and tighter social and political controls since protests in 2022-23. Since the war in Gaza began in October, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups based in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
In Gaza itself, where more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive according to Gaza health ministry figures, Iran’s action drew applause. Israel began its campaign against Hamas, the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group that runs Gaza, after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, by Israeli tallies.
Iran’s attack prompted at least a dozen airlines to cancel or reroute flights, with Europe’s aviation regulator still advising caution in using Israeli and Iranian airspace. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold, but the international community is urging restraint and seeking diplomatic solutions to avoid further escalation of the conflicts in the Middle East.
