Intense Missile Attacks by Iran Reveal Israel's Potential Weaknesses; Western Media Fails to Highlight the Magnitude of Retaliation Action
In a dramatic turn of events, Operation True Promise 3, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, has sent shockwaves across the Middle East and beyond. The operation, which began with a strike near Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, has prompted accusations of war crimes against Iran. The medical center, a facility largely used to treat wounded IDF personnel returning from Gaza, sustained major collateral damage due to the strike on a nearby military facility.
The Israeli government's response to the escalating conflict has been unprecedented. In an attempt to stem an emigration wave triggered by the inability of air defense systems to stop successive waves of missiles, they have imposed flight bans. The Iron Dome, Israel's air defense system, has been significantly compromised, with U.S. defense officials estimating that Israel has only 10-12 days of air defense interceptor capacity remaining.
The conflict has also imposed a dilemma on the United States and Israel, as they confront a regional power that resists aggression, retaliates with credible, escalating force, and keeps its public behind its government. The Pentagon is considering using 30,000 lb "bunker buster" bombs to hit facilities like Fordow, buried deep inside Iranian mountains.
The Iranian attack on June 19 was a record-breaking missile barrage, targeting high-value military, intelligence, and economic sites in and around Tel Aviv and central Israel. Over 100 casualties were reported, most believed to be military personnel. Iran's military strategy is calculated, strategic, unpredictable, and evolving, targeting command-and-control infrastructure, communications, intelligence, and strategic economic assets.
The downing of an Israeli Hermes drone over western Iran showcases Iran's enhanced air defense capabilities. In contrast to Israel's strikes on residential buildings, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure in Gaza and Syria, Iran has emphasized that its missiles are aimed at military-not civilian-targets.
The conflict has taken a toll on Israel's economy, with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange damaged, causing panic on the financial front. Scenes from Tel Aviv's metro system show residents sheltering underground for hours, and the city has been reduced to a city under siege.
The countries that held emergency juries to discuss a potential intervention against Iran in the context of Operation True Promise 3 included Israel, the United States, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, as indicated by the military activities and alerts across these nations during the operation. U.S. forces in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are on high alert, and civilian evacuations have already begun in anticipation of potential retaliation from Iran.
In response to the conflict, Israel has enforced an unprecedented censorship campaign, prohibiting civilians from filming or posting images of the destruction and punishing violators severely. Critics point out that this mirrors Israeli conduct in Gaza, where hospitals have been routinely bombed, and schools turned to rubble.
As Operation True Promise 3 continues, the region remains on edge, with the future uncertain and tensions high. The operation has shaken the foundations of Israel's strategic posture, with its air defenses nearing collapse, its economy wounded, its public confidence drained, and its traditional ally debating direct intervention. Iran, far from seeking peace under pressure, has instead adopted a long-term posture of calibrated resistance, which may outlast the West's political appetite for war.
