Iran-Israel Conflict: Could Iranian Ballistic Missile Strikes Lead to a Full-Scale War?
Iran-Israel Conflict: Could Iranian Ballistic Missile Strikes Lead to a Full-Scale War?
After a large-scale ballistic missile attack by Tehran against Israel, the pressing question is whether Iran and Israel are on the brink of open war.
On Tuesday night, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warning that “if Israel retaliates, Iran will carry out further strikes.” This attack follows an earlier incident in April this year when Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel in response to an attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria.
The Israeli military released a statement claiming that “there is no immediate threat” after the missile strikes, but Israel has yet to provide further details about the damage caused by this recent assault.
This escalation comes as Israel has already begun aerial and ground operations in Lebanon, raising concerns about a broader conflict in the region. Could this lead to a new and larger war? And is a direct confrontation between Iran and Israel now inevitable?
How Significant Was Iran’s Missile Attack?
Initially, Israeli forces estimated that around 180 missiles were launched by Iran, but U.S. officials later updated the figure to about 200 ballistic missiles.
This makes the recent attack larger than the one in April, when approximately 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles were fired.
According to Israeli sources, although their defense systems were activated, missiles managed to hit some targets in central and southern Israel.
On the other hand, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed that for the first time, hypersonic missiles were used in the attack, with about 90% of the missiles successfully hitting their targets. Iranian state media also reported, citing Revolutionary Guard sources, that three Israeli military bases were targeted in this strike.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “Iran has made a big mistake,” while an Israeli military spokesperson added that “we will retaliate at a time and place of our choosing.”
Iran, meanwhile, has warned that any Israeli retaliation will be met with an even more destructive response.
In light of this, U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed full support for Israel, stating that “no one should be mistaken about this,” and that the U.S. stands ready to assist in Israel’s defense and will continue to support it.
