Israel has reportedly just kicked off a potentially historic and hugely consequential two-pronged attack on Iran. They are hitting the nation’s nuclear infrastructure and its military command in Tehran. This major step up is a dangerous moment in the war which started eleven months ago and escalates the conflict with serious repercussions on regional security. The Israeli attack by the military is going to Iran on escalated missile attacks. Tensions between the two countries are currently at an all-time high and are increasing by the second.
The Israeli offensive started in early 2009 with an aerial blitz designed to knock out Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. At the same time, Israeli forces worked to destabilize the military command structure in Tehran itself. This action reflects Israel’s determination to counter what it perceives as existential threats posed by Iranian ambitions in the region.
In response, Iran has promised it will increase its assaults on Israel. They vow to bomb the military bases of any country that supports Israel’s defense – including the U.S. Yet Iranian leaders have made clear their intention to ruthlessly retaliate against all forms of aggression real or imagined.
On the ground in Israel and Gaza, this violence has led to widespread injury and devastation. A woman died when a shrapnel fell on her head in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. In Sa’ir, northeast of Hebron, three children, including a 6-year-old, were among 14 people injured. This tragic event is a reminder of the indiscriminate nature of the current conflict.
Israeli security forces carry out inspections of bombed buildings in Ramat Gan, surveying damage done by recent terrorist strikes. Rami Musher, a city commissioner present on the ground, described the ensuing scene as “like a war zone,” adding,
“This is a difficult and complex scene and we are still continuing to scan and ensure that there are no additional victims inside the buildings.”
Iran dialed the danger up to 11 early Saturday when it fired a second barrage of missiles at Israel. The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system was deployed and reportedly intercepted at least eight projectiles above Tel Aviv. One Iranian missile landed near residential buildings in Rishon Lezion, just south of Tel Aviv. Sadly, this strike led to one fatality and more than 20 people injured.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is very active in targeting Israeli military installations. They begin missile attacks on air fields in order to do so. As notable, Israeli military spokesperson Tomer Bar acknowledged the importance of such operations, saying,
“These strikes carry operational and national significance. We damaged – and will continue to damage – strategic sites and enemy sources of knowledge.”
He noted that Israeli forces have gone “full frontal.” For the first time, they hit targets over 1,500 kilometers from their periphery, in particular closing in on a defense arrays in Tehran.
As a further escalation from the violence that’s taken place inside of Israel, violence has spilled across borders. In Jordan’s northern city of Irbid, two civilians were reported injured in the conflict’s crossfire from falling debris. Summary on Saturday morning, new rocket attacks from Gaza against Israel. Miraculously, both rockets hit unpopulated land, resulting in no loss of life.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran should be punished. He reiterated his belief that the country has already “crossed red lines” by striking indiscriminately on civilian infrastructure. He warned Iran’s leaders that they would face a “very heavy price,” should they show further aggression.
Even as hostilities pile up, Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu recently called on citizens to stay active and alert. He stated,
“Stand up and let your voices be heard.”
As both sides gear up for the possibility of much deeper escalations, the current conflict marks a historic turning point in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Market participants and analysts have especially been keeping a close eye on developments as the situation continues to evolve.
