Israel Launches Limited Strikes on Iran

• Israeli missile strikes on Iran appear to have been limited, in part to the limitations of Israel’s long-range conventional military power;

• This and a previous strike conducted in April may be providing Israel with information toward a larger more devastating attack on specific facilities;

• The geo-strategic shift of power in the region has limited US-Israeli military power;

• Iran’s ballistic missile forces and asymmetrical military power including through organizations like Hezbollah and Ansar Allah continue to expand as US military power, including through its Israeli proxies, diminishes;

• Israel struggles in its offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah according to the Western media as US forces find themselves increasingly isolated and with limited weapons and ammunition;

• As the balance of military power shifts in the region, so does the geopolitical balance of power, with nations like Saudi Arabia slowly working out from under subordination to the US and working closer with the global majority;

• As time continues to run out for the US and its proxies, the temptation to resort to extreme measures will increase, requiring Iran and its allies to continue carefully managing escalation;

Resources:

Lead Up

Guardian – Strike on Iran will make world understand Israel’s might, says defence minister (October 23, 2024):
https://www.theguardian.com/world/202…

Defense Post – USAF Orders Ramp Up of JASSM, LRASM Air-Launched Missiles Production (August 2024):
https://thedefensepost.com/2024/08/20…

Reuters – Ukraine says Russia has launched over 8,000 missiles, 4,630 drones during war (February 2024):
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/…

BBC – What leaked US assessment of Israeli plans to strike Iran shows (October 22, 2024):
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6…

Financial Times – Military briefing: the Israeli missiles used to strike Iran (April 2024):
https://www.ft.com/content/56064051-e…

Brookings Institution – Which Path to Persia? Options for a New American Strategy toward Iran (2009):
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/…

Western Media

BBC – Explosions in Iran as Israel launches air strikes (October 26, 2024):
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y…

BBC – Strikes on Iran suggest Israel may have heeded US warnings (October 26, 2024):
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70…

France24 – Israel launches air strikes on targets in Iran (October 26, 2024):
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-ea…

VOA – Israel launches strikes on military targets in Iran (Oct 26, 2024):
https://www.voanews.com/a/explosions-…

Israeli Media

Times of Israel – Israel launches ‘precise strikes’ on Iran military sites weeks after missile attack (October 26, 2024):
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-…

Iranian Media

PressTV – Israel targeted positions in Tehran, Khuzestan, Ilam, causing limited damage: Iran (October 26, 2024):
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/10…

Israel vs Hezbollah

Washington Post – Hezbollah proving a formidable foe against Israeli forces in Lebanon (October 24, 2024):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/…