The anticipation in the Middle East for Israel’s retaliation to Iran’s recent attack is palpable, heightening the looming threat of a regional conflict.
Since the onset of the Gaza war in October, concerns of a broader regional war involving Iran, its allies, and Western nations like the United States have fluctuated.
Over the past six months, the Middle East has witnessed sporadic violence, characterized by retaliatory strikes between Israel and Iran-backed factions, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon.
These incidents have followed a predictable pattern, each one pushing the conflict escalation a notch higher.
Both sides have engaged in missile and drone attacks, gradually expanding their targets while exercising caution in their approach.
Israel, in particular, has been bold in testing the boundaries, potentially provoking Hezbollah to elicit a more forceful response for a broader offensive.
Despite the elimination of key Hezbollah leaders, the group has refrained from unleashing its long-range missiles thus far.
However, the dynamics shifted when Iran suffered a loss of one of its generals in an alleged Israeli strike on its embassy in Damascus, prompting Tehran to launch a direct assault on Israel.
Iran’s recent offensive marks the first foreign state attack on Israel since 1991, raising tensions significantly. Yet, Iranian officials have stressed the limited nature of the attack, primarily involving drones that were intercepted before causing substantial damage.
Moreover, Iran’s prior warning to regional states 72 hours before the attack suggests a strategic move aimed at avoiding extensive material harm.
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Link from www.aljazeera.com