Iran Launches Drone Strike in Retaliation
Israel Demonstrates Military Power
No Response, No Attack
Iran, which threatened retaliation airstrikes against Israel, reportedly launched a drone strike on the northern and southern regions of Israel on the morning of the 13th, local time. After over 100 drones entered Israeli airspace over Jerusalem, local reports indicated sounds of alarms and interception explosions.
According to Reuters and other foreign media, on the morning of the 13th, Iran reportedly launched hundreds of armed drones toward Israel. U.S. media also confirmed the news, quoting a White House official saying that over 100 drones launched from Iran were heading towards Israel.
According to CNN, drone attack sirens are sounding in Israel, and Israeli authorities have reported, “There are drone attacks from Iran, but no casualties yet.” A senior Israeli official stated, “Israel is planning a significant response to Iran’s unprecedented drone attack.” In response to Iran’s drone attack, Israeli aviation authorities have reportedly closed their airspace to all flights.
In response to Iran’s drone attack, U.S. military authorities appear to have intercepted some of Iran’s drones from the Iraq-Syria border area and continue to shoot down drones. Iran responded to this U.S. action by saying, “Stay away” on official X (formerly Twitter).
U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly monitored the situation at the White House with his National Security Advisor. This retaliatory strike is the attack that Iran warned about two weeks ago, and it is reported that Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles today.
Amid this, there are increasing concerns that the Gaza war could escalate into a Middle East war. However, experts say the possibility of escalating into a Middle East war is significantly low. This is because Iran, who retaliated, Israel, who was attacked, and the U.S., who declared full support for Israel and assisted them, are all considered to have won the battle.
According to local news agency AP, the possibility of Iran and Israel falling into a war is small because everyone has upheld their pride and taken away achievements in response to concerns about the expansion of the Gaza war that happened 147 days ago.
Israel, which suffered severe damage from Hamas’ surprise attack last October despite its modest military capabilities, proved its powerful military force by responding to this retaliatory strike. It is known that they intercepted more than 99% of the 300 attack drones and missiles reportedly launched by Iran, which is a result that reveals the performance of Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system.
As a result of this proof, Israel has reaffirmed that it still has the highest level of military power in the East and Arab regions. In addition, Israel’s response to the attack has reaffirmed support from its allies, effectively killing two birds with one stone.
In response, on the 1st, Iran decided to retaliate against Israel for the attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria, where seven people, including two generals, were killed.
Even though the strike could have escalated the conflict into a full-fledged Middle East war or called for extensive U.S. intervention, Iran decided to carry out a retaliatory strike. This seems to prove that Iran can retaliate despite various concerns.
Since the strike took place without significant casualties on both sides, it is speculated that there will be no situation of retaliation, and it is evaluated that a legitimate reason has been created for pursuing only the Gaza war.
Iran, which carried out a retaliatory strike against Israel, has announced that it will not attack any further. According to Reuters and other foreign media on the 14th local time, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated this in a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The statement meant that Iran’s retaliation operation against Israel has ended, and Iran will not embark on a new military operation unless it is attacked.
Since Israel also suffered minor damage from this strike and viewed the strike as an opportunity to prove its military power through its response newly, it is speculated that there will be no retaliatory attack from Israel.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, who watched the strike from the White House, stated, “Most of Iran’s attacks failed, and Israel has proven its superior military power. Israel should consider tonight a victory,” showing a satisfied smile.
Biden later said in a separate statement, “Israel has shown an amazing ability to defend against an unprecedented attack and defeat the enemy,” and evaluated that “it sent a clear message to its enemies that they cannot threaten Israel’s security.”
John Kirby, a National Security Communications Advisor at the White House National Security Council, also appeared on NBC and said, “Israel’s response to Iran’s strike is up to them, and we respect that,” but also conveyed that “President Biden does not want a war with Iran or heightened tension in the Middle East,” making it clear that the U.S. does not want a conflict in the Middle East.
Photo=AP, Xinhua, News 1, Reuters
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