THE skies over Israel and the occupied territories lit up on Tuesday evening, as a barrage of Iranian missiles tried to break through Israeli defences, while the Zionist state’s interceptors attempted to down the incoming projectiles. This was the second time Iran had directly targeted Israel, after the unprecedented missile strikes earlier in April. Israel had actually been provoking Iran to react for several months following the events in April. On Tuesday, Tehran did just that. Perhaps the most humiliating blow had come with the assassination — widely believed to be the handiwork of Tel Aviv — of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Haniyeh had come to Iran to participate in Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidential inauguration; murdering an honoured guest in the heart of the Islamic Republic was being portrayed as a masterstroke for Israel. Next, the war on Lebanon, and the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week was also a massive blow to Tehran. Hezbollah was seen as the most potent force in the Tehran-led ‘Axis of Resistance’, and the killing of its leader was supposed to send the message that the axis was in disarray, and that Tehran would not come to the aid of its regional armed allies. There were also reports that the reformists now in power wanted to mend fences with the West, even if it meant throwing Iran’s Axis allies under the bus. But the latest strikes targeting Israel indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei felt the phase of ‘strategic patience’ was over, and it was time to retaliate.

The exchange of hostilities has brought the Middle East to the brink of regional war, mainly because Israel has crossed all red lines and dismissed all ceasefire plans. Power-drunk, and assured that its benefactors in the West will cover for its bad behaviour, Israel feels it can murder and pillage at will. Following the Iranian strikes, there has been a dangerous uptick in rhetoric, with Israeli leaders threatening to hit Tehran’s nuclear and petrochemical facilities. This would be an error of catastrophic proportions. What is needed is an immediate end to the barbaric violence in Lebanon and Gaza to dial down tensions. But with the US and UK egging on the Israelis, instead of reining in their rabid ally, it is difficult to foresee a negotiated denouement of this dangerous conflict.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2024