How will Iran respond to the Israeli attack? Experts explain
Following the attacks carried out by Israel on Iran on Friday night, Iran announced its right to self-defense based on Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Experts have explained how Iran might respond to Israel.
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Following the attacks Israel carried out on Iranian military bases on Friday night, Iran stated that it has the "right and obligation to defend itself" based on Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter. Israel had long been reiterating that it would retaliate for the ballistic missile attacks Iran launched on October 1. BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen analyzed the latest developments.
Following the attacks Israel carried out on Iranian military bases on Friday night, Iran stated that it has the "right and obligation to defend itself" based on Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter.
Israel had long been reiterating that it would retaliate for the ballistic missile attacks Iran launched on October 1.
Now, all eyes are on Iran.
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen analyzed the latest developments.
The Israeli attacks were expected. After Iran's ballistic missile attack on October 1, Israel had said this would happen. Now the question is whether Iran will respond.
US President Biden had told Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear, oil, and gas facilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu followed his advice in this instance.
The Americans hope that attacking only military targets might convince Iran not to launch another attack on Israel.
When countries believe that if they do not respond they will be seen as weak and resigned, it is difficult to stop successive attacks and counter-attacks. This is how wars escalate and worsen.
On October 1, Iran responded to Israel's attacks on its allies, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon. Now Israel says it is responding not only to that ballistic missile attack but also to months of continuous attacks by Iranian allies.
Israel is also conducting a major offensive in northern Gaza. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described this as the darkest moment of the Gaza war, as the Israeli military is bombing an entire population and exposing them to the risk of siege and starvation.
From the outside, it is impossible to know whether the timing of Israel's attacks on Iran was designed to divert international attention away from Gaza. However, this could be part of the calculation.