In an unprecedented move, on Sunday Iran launched a massive military strike targeting Israel, marking the largest such drone attack and first direct Iranian strike on the Zionist state in history. [1]
The assault was in retaliation to a devastating Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on 1 April.
While mentioning the military operation’s name, True Promise, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated during a defiant public address,
“Today, not only us, but the people of the region and the world are aware of the authority of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“The people of the world saw that after Operation al-Aqsa Flood, ‘True Promise’ collapsed the Zionist regime’s false hegemony.” [2]
“True Promise” hits Israeli military targets
The naming of the counter-operation by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) led to broadcaster Al Jazeera suggesting that this highlights Tehran’s commitment to holding the apartheid state accountable for its recent killing of seven IRGC members. [1]
On 1 April, an Israeli strike on Syrian soil resulted in the deaths of a number of soldiers, notably including two generals who led military operations in Lebanon and Syria. [1]
It is clear that the strike demonstrated Iran’s determination to maintain its promise of retaliation for attacks on its interests, with hundreds of drones and missiles targeting military sites across Israel, including the Nevatim Airbase in the Negev desert.
Iran first regional power to confront Israel amid Gaza genocide
Prior to the Iranian action, some commentators had suggested that the country’s influence and military might had waned, due to increased confrontations with the US and its allies in the region. [1]
Raisi made reference to the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as he continued his public remarks,
“Our IRGC and army forces punished the Zionist regime in a rational, wise, calculated, and precise action, according to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and created authority and honour, and today the world and the leaders of different countries recognise this authority.
“This action was a declaration to the whole world and the so-called well-equipped powers of the world, especially the Americans and other supporters of the Zionist regime, that the great nation of Iran is a ready nation and our armed forces are skilful, equipped, faithful, powerful, ready and waiting for the command of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to act.” [2]
Military response sparks economic turmoil
While the attack primarily focused on political and military objectives, its economic repercussions are also notable.
Many have questioned the effectiveness of the barrage of missiles but it has triggered fluctuations in Iran’s currency markets, with the rial plummeting to new lows against the dollar. [3]
Iran’s historic attack on Israel represents a significant escalation in regional tensions, with far-reaching implications. As both sides assess the aftermath of the assault, the situation remains fluid, raising concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region.
Analysis
ANALYSIS
'Attack him where he is unprepared; appear where you are not expected.'
Sun Tzu, in The Art of War, emphasised the value of the unanticipated.
The Iranians did the opposite; they gave ample advance warnings of an impending attack, which ultimately rendered the attack militarily ineffective.
Its strikes consisted of drones, cruise, and ballistic missiles. The vast majority of these were shot down before even reaching Israeli airspace. This was due to the activation of a well-organised defensive plan (set in anticipation of the promised Iranian attacks), which consisted of fighter jets, radar, warships, and integrated air and missile defence systems.
A large failure
It would be fair to say the Iranian operation was a large failure, as 99 per cent of drones and missiles were intercepted. The remaining one per cent caused zero Israeli casualties and fatalities, with minor damage to two airbases.
The only positive for Iran was sending a new message to Israel and its allies: that they are now willing to respond directly, rather than use proxies.
Although this attack was a failure, Iran’s ability to harm Israel shouldn’t be underestimated. Iranian-controlled paramilitaries are well entrenched and well-armed on the Syrian and Lebanese borders with Israel.
On the command of the IRGC, these paramilitary groups could likely launch a surprise two-pronged attack on Israel using thousands of rockets, missiles, drones, anti-tank weapons, and mortar and artillery fire. This type of attack has the potential to overwhelm Israeli air defences and cause a considerable amount of damage.
ANALYSIS
The aim was not a military victory
It is quite obvious that given the abundance of prior notice, the Iranian counter-strikes were never meant to inflict considerable damage of any military description.
On the contrary, despite being archenemies for the past half a century, the two nations have never acknowledged launching a direct attack on the other. So Sunday's move suggests that something major has happened in order to change the status quo.
And I do not refer only to the recent deaths of a number of Iranian servicemen, as there have been numerous Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear and other infrastructure in past years.
Ask where this all leads
The Zionist state decimated an Iranian consulate in Damascus, this is appalling to say the least. But with Iran's direct response, what happens next?
If Israel responds in kind, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabian airspace will likely be utilised — either with consent or without — to deliver strikes upon Iran.
What will be of interest is observing which countries ultimately favour Israel in this tit-for-tat situation, and where a line will be drawn on the matter.
Over the years, many commentators have claimed that some members of the Saudi government, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are close to the Israeli regime.
At the same time, Iran is deeply allied with the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has been slaughtering hundreds of thousands since at least 2011.
It seems the case that both Iran and Israel are two sides of the same coin, both evil in intent and both unwilling to back down anytime soon.
But this is a distraction from Gaza!
None of what has been mentioned matters more than the situation in Gaza, where approximately 33,000 have been murdered during the Zionist state's genocide.
We have seen numerous instances where news reports are manufactured and prolonged in order to divert the public's attention away from real issues. Might this not be a textbook example of that in action?
What is stopping Israel from ratcheting up its brutal attacks on innocent Palestinians while the world looks the other way, not on account of being desensitised and uncaring (as has already been the case for six months) but on account of the media industry deliberately focusing on side issues?
We hold a keen interest in the wellbeing of Muslims across the globe, and with al-Aqsa at grave threat, we need to focus on that which the mainstream media may at times do a dreadful job of reporting.
We need to continue to research in our own ways and stay on top of the affairs of all Muslims, because it is often the case that nobody will help us in this endeavour but ourselves.
Also read
- Has Gaza woken us up?
- Lessons taken from Operation al-Aqsa Flood
- UN vote on Gaza ceasefire is too little too late
- Biden upset with Israel over Gaza aid worker deaths
- Calls for Gaza ceasefire continue to fall on deaf ears
Source: Islam21c
Notes
