The Middle East is on the brink of a regional war following a series of escalations between Israel and Iran, with Israeli forces already engaged in combat with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. The conflict intensified a day after Iran launched its largest-ever missile barrage on Israel, firing 180 ballistic missiles at Israeli military targets.
A CNN report states that the expanding conflict is a realisation of fears after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which led many to believe that the conflict would expand beyond Gaza.
Iran's missile attack on Tuesday night was described as unprecedented in ferocity. While most missiles were intercepted by Israel's air defense systems, there was still significant concern. One Palestinian man was killed in the West Bank, but the overall damage to Israeli military infrastructure was minimal. Israel is now faced with a critical decision, as a former senior Israeli military official told CNN: "Are you responding to the intention or to the results?"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that "Iran will pay a heavy price", and key ally US has promised retaliation for Iran's aggressive actions. Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, warned of "severe consequences" for the attack and said the US would work closely with Israel on its response.
The Israeli government's options for retaliation are now under heavy discussion, as per a BBC report. Military planners could target conventional military sites such as missile launch pads and command centers or even Iranian economic assets like petrochemical plants.
However, Israel's most significant potential target would be Iran's nuclear program. The BBC highlights that Israel has long suspected Iran of advancing toward the development of nuclear weapons, and several key nuclear facilities could be in Israel's crosshairs.
However, Iran has warned of a powerful response if Israel strikes back. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated, "This is only a glimpse of our capabilities." The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) added that any Israeli retaliation would lead to "crushing attacks."