What does Israel's capability to strike Iran directly without special ops mean for the region?

• Published date: 19 April 2024
• Author: AMIR BOHBOT
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Foreign reports surfaced early morning across Iran, the US, and other media, detailing attacks in Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Focus quickly turned to an Iranian military airfield in Isfahan, from which unmanned Iranian aircraft reportedly departed for an attack on Israel

Israel found itself compelled to mount a military response to Iranian aggression between Saturday and Sunday. With diplomatic pressures from the US and others, it's become clear that Israel, under such pressure, would seek to "send a message" without escalating to a direct and prolonged confrontation with Iran.

Analyzing foreign reports on the relatively secretive operation—where heavy drones struck an Iranian military airfield in response to an attack on an Israeli military airfield in the Negev—it appears to be a simple tit-for-tat equation. However, Israel's focused, limited strikes against Iranian targets aim to allow room for Iranian denial and avoid triggering an escalated response.

US restraint and continued focus on the Gaza Strip further constrain Israel's actions. Opening a new theater of war would counter Israel's interests at this time.

Israeli concerns also stem from the intelligence community's failure to properly assess changing Iranian aggressiveness amid a deepening alliance with Russia. The Iranians' decision to escalate the inter-state conflict into open confrontation adds...