Israel threatens ‘significant’ retaliation after Iranian attack with 181 missiles. As with the first direct Iranian attack in April, the damage was limited, but this time Tehran can prepare for a tougher Israeli response. Despite his muscle talk, the vulnerable ayatollah regime will be afraid.
On Tuesday evening, October 2, for the second time this year, almost the entire Israeli population had to rush to the shelter due to a large-scale Iranian missile attack. At the time it took several hours for them to reach Israel, yesterday it was a matter of tens of minutes. The ballistic missiles were more advanced than those of six months ago, reached Israel much faster and hit more often.
However, the damage was once again limited, because the majority of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems – again with help from the United States and Jordan – or landed in uninhabited areas.
Only Palestinian killed in Iranian attack
Impacts were reported in the center and south of the country, including at various air bases and a school in southern Gedera. But the number of fatalities was limited to one: a 37-year-old Palestinian who had fled from Gaza to the West Bank city of Jericho.
Although the damage is relatively minor, this time Israel plans to hit back hard. “Iran has made a big mistake and will pay for it,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “The regime in Iran does not understand how determined we are to defend ourselves and strike back against our enemies. They will understand that whoever attacks us will be attacked by us.” Unlike after the attack in April, he also seems to have support from the White House for this.
Americans will help Israel respond to Iran
At the time, Israel responded with restraint, with a pinprick near one of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Shortly after the Iranian attack, US President Joe Biden had said that Israel should “take the win” instead of hitting back hard. Now different voices are coming from Washington. Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan calls it a “significant escalation” that will have “serious consequences.” “And we will work with Israel to ensure that.”
The question is how and when Israel will strike in Iran. Many Israelis would like to see a devastating blow to the Islamic republic. “We must act now to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and central energy facilities and fatally paralyze this terrorist regime,” former Prime Minister Naftali Bennet wrote on X.
Iran is becoming increasingly weaker
Iran is crowing victory after the largely repulsed attack and says on state television that 80 percent of the missiles have hit the target. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the attack as a “blow to the Zionist regime” and warned Israel of more and heavier attacks: “With God’s help, the blows of the resistance front against the worn and rotting body of the Zionist regime will become stronger and more painful.”
The ‘Axis of Resistance’, which has been carrying out simultaneous attacks since October 7 in pursuit of Iran’s desire to wipe Israel off the map, is suffering major losses. Hamas in Gaza has been largely dismantled, Hezbollah in Lebanon has been significantly weakened and the Houthis in Yemen are regularly hit hard, while their rocket and drone attacks cause little damage.
And so Iran itself had to do something to radiate strength, especially after the humiliating elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a close friend of Ayatollah Khamenei. Especially since the promised retaliation for the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital in July had so far failed to materialize. Ultimately, Tuesday evening’s attack appears to be intended to avenge both terrorist leaders, declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Israel considers new liquidations
New liquidations of Iranians or pro-Iranian leaders by Israel appear to be a serious option. The American news medium Axios writes, based on anonymous government officials, that the Israel’s retaliation will be ‘significant’and will occur in a few days. In addition to an attack on oil production sites, the killing of ‘specific persons’ is being considered.
That Iran is afraid of this is evident from the news that Khamenei is still staying at the secure location where he was moved after Nasrallah’s death. Given the virtually unlimited capabilities that the Israeli secret service Mossad has demonstrated in recent months, it is better for him to stay there for the time being for his own safety.
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