A screengrab from a video of Israel’s drone strikes on the Isfahan region in central Iran, April 19, 2024
Israel’s “Demonstration” Strikes Inside Iran
EA on Pat Kenny Show: How Will Israel Respond to Iran’s Strikes?
I joined outlets in Ireland, Qatar, the UK, Australia, Poland, and France on Friday to analyze Israel’s “demonstration” strikes inside Iran and what is likely to happen next in the region, including Gaza.
Watch Australia’s ABC News
I speak with Yvonne Yong about the details of the Israeli strikes, including their targets and the limited damage; the position of the US and the international community; and the open questions about the region, including Gaza.
We’re already in a critical situation in Gaza, on a day-to-day basis. That receded because of the Iran aspect, but now we go back to it — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be held back from attacking Iran directly, but he may not be held back from attacking Rafah, with humanitarian consequences for 1.5 million Gazans.
Watch France 24 English from 1:01
Israel is saying to Iran, “You can’t attack us without some type of response” — just as Iran said that to Israel. Both countries have done that in such a way to avoid direct confrontation.
But the “indirect war” between the two countries has been going on for years.
Watch Talk TV
An extract from my discussion with UK outlet Talk TV, turning attention from Israel and Iran to a possible Israeli assault on Rafah in Gaza:
International politics professor Scott Lucas says Israel may “revive the idea” of attacking Rafah, once the tension with Iran dies down.
“Before the escalation between Israel and Iran, there were voices in Israel saying ‘this attack is going to occur very soon.'”#TalkTV pic.twitter.com/2XUma1PQOf
— TalkTV (@TalkTV) April 19, 2024
Listen to Dublin NewsTalk from 1:03.39
Iran telegraphed its strikes, wanting to save face after Israel’s assassinations of Iranian commanders in Syria.
Israel couldn’t let that go unanswered. But under pressure from the US and others not to escalate this further, the Israelis limit their own strikes.
That pulls the countries back from direct confrontation. But what of Israel’s “indirect war” on Iran and its allies?
Confirmation that missiles were fired at Iran: https://www.ft.com/content/7c6ac9ed-f2b6-401e-8aa5-75b9a3616c17
“An Iranian official told the Financial Times that they were initially informed that “small drones and quadcopters” were used in the strike, but were later told that there had been a “limited” number of missiles fired at the republic, which were intercepted.”
Exclusive satellite images shows minimal damage after strike on Iran: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2024/04/19/israel-iran-attack-robertson-tsr-digvid.cnn
“Satellite images exclusively obtained by CNN show a clear indication of the impact of Israel’s overnight attack in Iran, showing no extensive damage on an Iranian airbase believed to be the main target. “
No satellite imagery showing damage to the airbase: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/satellite-images-dont-appear-to-show-extensive-damage-to-irans-isfahan-air-base-allegedly-targeted-by-idf/
Still unclear if the base was struck. Social media footage does indicate a major explosion.
It is being alleged that the Israelis fired sophisticated air-launched ballistic missiles from Iraq at an Esfahan SAM site some of which failed and landed in Iraq: https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee1/status/1781279440296681664