A major development in the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine takes place as Iran launches a massive missile strike on Israel. A barrage of rockets and drones was launched by Iran during the early hours of April 14. More than 300 projectiles were launched towards various military targets, as described by the Iranian military spokesperson. 

This retaliatory strike marks the beginning of a larger war that is seemingly going to take place between Israel and Iran. Earlier on April 1, Israel bombed Iran’s embassy in Syria. This prompted Iran to take actions like today’s missile strike. 

But there are a lot of other things that we need to know about this retaliatory strike and how it affects the world. 

Let’s go ahead and discuss them in this blog.

Why did Iran attack Israel?

On April 1, an Iranian embassy was seemingly bombed by Israel, which killed 12 Iranians, including two generals and a security officer who served in the Iranian military. This made the Iranian state very angry, and the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, termed the action “highly provocative.”. This statement sent shockwaves across the world. 

Most of the prominent defence analysts that work for the major governments of the world expected Iran to take retaliatory action against Israel. Iran’s military commander in chief, General Hossein Salami, issued a statement saying that Iran will vow to take action against the ongoing provocative activities by Israel.

Iran’s Retaliatory Strike On Israel 

After two weeks of the attack on the Iranian embassy by Israel in Syria that killed two generals, Iran has finally launched an offensive against Israel. Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, which is receiving massive attention across the world.

On April 13, an Israeli ship was also seized by the Iranian navy in the Strait of Hormuz. This came after Iran declared a possible strike on Israeli territory. 

Iran’s Meticulously Planned Strike

While the western media and Israeli state-sponsored media channels are claiming that 99% of the missiles were intercepted, the claim is highly unlikely to be true. As Israeli air defense systems cannot track hundreds of projectiles at once, a considerable number of missiles managed to strike their targets. 

Videos have emerged across Twitter that suggest the Israeli claim of shooting down most of the missiles and drones is false. A user on Twitter uploaded videos showing missiles striking an Israeli air base in the Ashkelon region. Hossein Salami has also confirmed that the military has documented videos of the missiles striking the intended targets.

Iran used a highly complex strategy that confused Israeli defence systems. First, they launched Shahed-136 drones that confused the air defence radars on the ground. Then they launched a massive barrage of missiles and rockets, of which, a considerable number of units managed to hit their targets.

The western media is trying to create ruckus on the fact that Israeli defence systems have failed despite having such high tech features. As the United States is known for its divisive geopolitics and greediness for oil rich countries, there is no doubt that they would not want to churn out benefits from the ongoing situation.

Russia’s Role In This Conflict

Photos have emerged across the online social media platforms that seem to feature missiles and artillery shells that show Russian and Iranian flags together. This comes as a testimony to the fact that Russia is supporting Iran with weapons that could be used for a larger offensive against Israel.

But the official statement from the Russian federation comes with a message suggesting restraint from both sides. They also said that the ongoing tensions would remain high until the Palestinian issue was resolved.

India’s Statement On The Issue

India’s Ministry Of External Affairs issued a statement on the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran. The MEA said that “India is seriously concerned at the escalation taking place between Israel and Iran that is having an effect on global peace and security in the gulf region”. 

India’s Defense Ministry is also closely monitoring the situation amid tensions that there will be a larger outbreak of war in the region.

Is World War III coming?

The chances of a larger conflict cannot be underestimated, as Iran is also a large military power on the Arabian Peninsula. Though Iran might not have weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear warheads, they still have a large military arsenal with ballistic missiles and a functional air force. 

Iran is also a major drone power, as they have demonstrated the capabilities of developing kamikaze drones like the Shahed-136. As Russia is Iran’s top military ally, it is not difficult for Iran to access weapons that hold the capability to destroy large military assets. 

The United States has not shown its willingness to participate in an Israeli counteroffensive against Iran. This is evident, as the United States doesn’t want itself to be in a position where it has to indirectly face its biggest enemy, Russia.

Conclusion

The escalation between Iran and Israel, marked by Iran’s retaliatory strike, shows the delicate state of stability in the Middle East region. With tensions mounting and regional powers fighting for supremacy, the possibility of a wider conflict cannot be underestimated. 

The involvement of countries like Russia adds another aspect of uncertainty to the issue. While diplomatic efforts are crucial in cooling down tensions, the risk of a full-scale conflict between Iran and Israel should be kept in mind. 

As the world watches closely, it becomes necessary for all nations involved in the conflict to restrain themselves from further provocations and seek peaceful resolutions to avoid the devastating prospect of World War III.

To read more global news coverage and updates on this conflict, click here.

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