Fears of war in the Middle East eased last night after Iran said it would not retaliate after Israeli missile attacks near its nuclear facilities.
Israel’s muted show of force, which was criticized by hardline coalition government members, came after Iran sent 300 missiles and drones into the Jewish state last Saturday.
There were no casualties in the Israeli attack, which took place on the 85th birthday of the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei. It focused on Isfahan province, home to several nuclear facilities, missile factories and an air base. None of the nuclear sites were damaged.
Further explosions were reported near the northern city of Tabriz.
Iranian state television said: ‘Three drones were spotted in the sky over Isfahan.
A map of reported explosions in Iran. Following Israel’s retaliation, Rishi Sunak led international calls for de-escalation as he urged ‘calm heads to prevail’
Military personnel stand guard at a nuclear facility in the Zardanjan area of Isfahan, Iran. In recent weeks, mutual exchanges between regional powers threatened to lead to outright conflict
Images posted on social media show anti-aircraft fire over the city of Isfahan in Iran. The attack focused on Isfahan province, home to several nuclear facilities, missile factories and an air base
“The air defense system became active and destroyed these drones in the air.”
Following Israel’s retaliation, Rishi Sunak led international calls for de-escalation as he urged ‘calm heads prevail’.
In recent weeks, mutual exchanges between regional powers threatened to lead to outright conflict.
The latest shadow war began on April 1 when an Israeli missile destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing at least seven people, including senior military figures.
On April 13, Iran launched its first major attack on Israel. British fighter jets joined a US-led international coalition in shooting down the terrifying array of projectiles. Remarkably, there were no fatalities.
The sheer scale of the Iranian attack led to calls from ultranationalist members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet for Israel to “go crazy.” However, it appeared that yesterday’s action was intended to signal Israel’s ability to attack sensitive targets in Iran, rather than inflict any damage.
Images have been posted that appear to show a rocket attack in Isfahan. It appeared that yesterday’s action was intended to signal Israel’s ability to attack sensitive targets in Iran, rather than inflict any damage
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei. There were no casualties in the Israeli attack, which took place on the 85th birthday of the country’s supreme leader
Damage caused by an airstrike that hit a building near the Iranian embassy in Damascus. The latest shadow war began on April 1 when an Israeli missile destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing at least seven people, including senior military figures.
National Security Minister Ben Gvir could not hide his disappointment, describing the strikes as ‘bland’.
In another conciliatory move, Israel also gave the US a last-minute warning before launching the attack, US sources claimed yesterday. The tip may have been intended to appease US President Joe Biden, who had begged Israel not to escalate the conflict.
Speaking at the G7 political conference in Italy yesterday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the US had not participated.
Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Itamar Rabinovich said the country has “tried to balance between the need to respond and the desire not to fall into a cycle of action and counter-reaction that would only escalate endlessly.”
Last night, international diplomats asked for further guarantees from both countries that the attacks and counter-attacks would stop.
Instead, they want to focus on preventing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. After seven months of conflict, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would face hunger and serious diseases.
The Hamas-led Palestinian Health Ministry claimed yesterday that more than 30,000 people have been killed since the terror group’s murderous attack on Israel on October 7, which killed 1,139 Israelis.
National Security Minister Ben Gvir (pictured) could not hide his disappointment at Israel’s response, describing the attacks as ‘bland’
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it is “high time to break the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East.” He also called on the international community to prevent further developments that could lead to “devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond.”
Experts last night offered differing views on the developing conflict, with one suggesting that Israel could engage in a “series of scattered attacks” over time, pursuing a “death by a thousand cuts” strategy.
Middle Eastern security expert Dr. Andreas Krieg told the Mail: “I think a protracted but manageable conflict is in Netanyahu’s interest.
‘That can be achieved by expanding the conflict with the Iranian Resistance Axis. This is a low-risk conflict that keeps Israel on high alert without the risk of becoming existential.
“Israel could decide over time to launch a series of scattered attacks that are individually so negligible that Iran does not have to respond… a ‘death by a thousand cuts’ strategy that would be difficult to discourage.”
Andrew Borene of the threat intelligence firm Flashpoint said: “It appears that Israel and Iran are now engaged in a very dangerous game of bilateral mismanagement.”
Yossi Mekelberg, of the Chatham House international relations think tank, said: “Wherever Israel looks now, it sees Iran on its borders, even though Iran does not border Israel.”