There is no doubt that Israel will respond to Iran’s attack, but the question remains when and where. Israel is under pressure to show restraint and prevent a regional war – which the US would most likely be dragged into.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is currently deliberating whether to take advantage of the support Israel is enjoying and use it to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities – something he has wanted to do for well over a decade.
Such an attack, however, would not be able to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities all together, but rather signal to Iran that it should not strike Israel again. But, Israel needs US military support to destroy Iran’s underground facilities, and that is something that Joe Biden, the US president, would not agree to in the middle of the election.
Israel is also enjoying the anxiety in Iran over a looming attack, and considers it pay-back for Iran’s two weeks of threats. The uncertainty has led the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to evacuate its facilities in Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The best-case scenario for Israel would be to choose a middle ground, such as attacking military installations inside Iran and leaving no casualties. This would both show strength and determination, and be acceptable for Israel’s allies.
With Iran vowing to respond to any Israeli attack, however, Tehran has backed itself into a corner. If Israel is to believe Iran, it might as well attack strategic and important targets, rather than proxies, which it’s already doing almost every day.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
