In the latest escalation between Israel and Iran, the strike Israel launched on October 26 was a direct response to the barrage of ballistic missiles Iran fired at Israeli territory earlier in the month.
The Israeli operation was strategic, with satellite images from Planet Labs now confirming substantial damage to two key Iranian military facilities involved in missile and drone production. Some buildings were completely obliterated in these sites, significantly weakening Iran’s ability to create components essential for its weapons programs.
The scale of Israel’s response was immense: about 100 aircraft were reportedly mobilized, including F-15s and F-16s primarily used to refuel the F-35 stealth fighters that likely executed the strikes. Israel first took down air defenses in Iraq and Syria, allowing its planes to penetrate Iranian airspace unchallenged.
Videos released afterward show Iran’s anti-aircraft guns firing blindly, unable to detect Israel’s F-35s. This operation sends a strong message: Israel demonstrated that it can fly over Iran, strike military targets, and still hold back from causing full-scale destruction.
In addition to missile and drone facilities, Israel hit around 20 military targets in Iran, including radar installations and Russian-made air defense systems. By eliminating these defenses, Israel has made it significantly easier to carry out any potential future operations with minimal resistance.
Notably, Israel avoided hitting Iran’s nuclear facilities or key economic infrastructure, leaving the door open for further escalation should Iran retaliate. For now, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is downplaying the impact of Israel’s operation, signaling a desire to avoid war. Yet, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has promised retaliation, even if Iran’s options for effective action are limited.
Iran is vowing to respond to Israel after it launched strikes over the weekend against Iranian military targets.
After initially downplaying the attack’s impact, Iran warned it will use “all available tools to deliver a definite and effective response.”https://t.co/zYQbppr7Fw
— GZERO Media (@gzeromedia) October 29, 2024
With Hamas and Hezbollah, both weakened as proxies, Iran’s response capabilities are increasingly constrained. Its air force is no match for Israel’s, and with its missile and drone production facilities damaged, Iran’s threats might ultimately amount to little more than rhetoric.
As tensions simmer, there’s speculation that this intense tit-for-tat exchange may be nearing its end, with Israel’s message clear: it will not tolerate direct or indirect aggression, and it has the upper hand to keep that position.
