Israel attacks Iran after Iran fired missiles at Israel. The Houthis did the same. For several days, Iran has attacked neighbouring countries and the Americans. It may appear that the final reckoning is under way.
The Revolutionary Guard has for some time been testing the Americans in the Persian Gulf and firing at Kuwait and Bahrain. At the same time, they present themselves as defenders of Lebanon.
Israel does not refrain from responding when Hezbollah fires rockets at northern Israel. They have conducted a relentless bombing campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. But they receive no support from the Lebanese government. Iran makes the cessation of bombing in Lebanon a condition for an agreement, while itself firing missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain. Lebanon and Israel have continued the negotiations in Washington, and Lebanese President Aoun has rebuked Iran and said that it is Iran that threatens Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it carried out strikes on Sunday in the western and central parts of Iran.
In a statement, the military said that the Israeli Air Force was responsible for the attacks.
“Shortly ago, the Israeli Air Force struck targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in the western and central parts of Iran,” the statement said, adding that further details would follow.
In a separate report, Reuters said that explosions were heard in Tehran, Tabriz and Isfahan, citing local media.
The Israeli strikes came hours after Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles at northern Israel.
Citing state media, Reuters reported that the IRGC said that Israel carried out the strikes against targets inside Iran using “air-launched” ballistic missiles.
The fact that the Houthis are also firing at Israel is an invitation to a new round of war. Both Iran and the Houthis know what happens when they send missiles against Israel.
Trump
There have been frictions between Trump and Netanyahu. Trump is said to have shouted on the telephone and said that Bibi is crazy, that the bombing of Lebanon is doing great damage to Israel’s reputation. Trump confirmed that things had become heated.
He told the Financial Times that Bibi will simply have to abide by the agreements he enters into.
“He will have no choice,” Trump told the newspaper in a telephone interview, adding: “I decide. I decide everything. He [Netanyahu] decides nothing.”
These words were spoken after Iran attacked Israel. Trump said that Israel would have to put up with it this time, but did he himself believe that? Trump has been treading water for many weeks and frustrating many of his own supporters who want to get the war over with.
Iran will never surrender uranium, cancel its missile programme and its proxies abroad.