Israel hits back against Iran (bombs Isfahan, home to nuclear facilities)

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Much like with Hamas, Iran can choose how this begins but they can't choose how it ends.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Very curious what the "ceasefire now" folks will think of this.

They always wanted Hamas to fire and Israel to cease. It was all a lie. The pattern will continue.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Not one American soldier should die for Israel. Let these awful leaders fight amongst themselves

Then you need to simply accept that Israel will respond with overwhelming force to a successful Iranian attack, and nothing will be able to stop them.

Or we could wisely use our military power in the region to neutralize an enemy's assault on an ally and possibly prevent the largest-scale war in decades.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

https://twitter.com/officejjsmart/status/1779252494431904218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw...

Not thinking this is a reliable source.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

"Iranian ballistic missiles are now flying over Iraq. They will arrive in Israeli airspace in approximately 10-20 minutes, depending on the exact type, target, and launch location."

https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1779267424363118878

This is probably where we find out if Tehran gets humiliated, or hit with overwhelming military force.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

This is retaliation against Israel, not first strike.

But still, I'm not sure why Iran saw this as the final straw.

There's a chance Israel will limit its own counter-counter-strike... but I feel Israel could now get its full-blown war they have been wanting since Bush took out Saddam Hussein.

However Israel responds, they almost always try to get the permission from the US... and I'm afraid Biden would grant it, to draw attention regarding Israel to Iran.

Iran was a party to the 10/7 genocide. It has been at war with Israel for six months now. It has now decided to forfeit its weak deniability.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

When it comes to the pointless Biden digression, I'll just say this.

Do I disagree with some of Biden's rhetoric towards Israel in the six months since it was attacked? Absolutely.

Do I disagree with any of his meaningful actions towards Israel? No.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Very curious what the "ceasefire now" folks will think of this.

They always wanted Hamas to fire and Israel to cease. It was all a lie. The pattern will continue.

Ex-bloody-scuse me?

Once again, not referring to you at all, but a huge part of the movement has been acting in bad faith from the start. They completely ignore Hamas provocations - including that Hamas broke the last cease-fire! Sorry for being a bit overly broad so that you thought I might be referring to anyone who wanted a genuine ceasefire, but the "Ceasefire now" folks are a different breed.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

"A combination of Israeli missile-defense systems and fighter-jets (operated it seems by more than one country) have intercepted the first waves of drones and missiles launched by Iran. So far 1 Israeli wounded. The west should be providing this level of defense to Ukraine as well"

https://twitter.com/AnshelPfeffer/status/1779286405232922829

Seems to have been a very coordinated effort from the defense forces of the entire allied group in the region. Very impressive.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

An important point:

"Iran launched 185 drones, 110 ballistic missiles and 36 cruise missiles at Israel.

The lack of significant damage isn’t because Iran didn’t try, but a testament to Israeli and U.S. air defense and air power."

https://twitter.com/OAlexanderDK/status/1779421078344941749

Power-mad and insane as he may be, I strongly doubt Bibi feels this will be sufficient provocation to enter into a protracted military conflict that Iran is calculating to pariah Israel even further, particularly when Iran will say this was not unprovoked but a response to the embassy attack.

I am also not sure if Israel could defeat Iran without direct US involvement either

depends what you mean by "defeat", they could nuke all major Iranian cities and their nuclear installations.

Yeah, that's the thing - Israel could easily defeat Iran, but not in a way they want to.

And everyone understanding this is probably a big part of why the US will never even threaten to withhold its defense of Israel in a situation like this.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

US President Joe Biden warned yesterday that Iranian retaliation in response to Israel’s highly provocative April 1 attack on Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus was expected “sooner than later.”


In this picture released by the official website of the Iranian Army on Jan. 19, 2024, a missile is launched during a military drill in southern Iran.
While not criticizing, let alone condemning Israel’s attack on the embassy, Biden was quick to declare his administration’s total support for Israel. “Our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” he declared. “Let me say it again: ironclad.”

The Israeli airstrike on the consular section of Iran’s embassy in Syria killing three senior Iranian generals and other officials was a flagrant act of war that could only further inflame tensions in the Middle East and lead to a wider war. It was not only another breach of Syria’s national sovereignty, but a direct attack on Iranian territory—as embassies in a foreign country are designated as such by international convention.

Biden’s remarks amount to a blank cheque to the Israeli regime to carry out illegal acts of aggression anywhere in the Middle East, including against Iran. Just as it has backed Israel’s barbaric war in Gaza to the hilt on the basis of its “right to defend itself,” so the US gives its “ironclad” backing for setting the region aflame.

Asked by reporters what his message to Iran was, Biden simply declared: “Don’t.” He provided no evidence that an Iranian strike was imminent, but again stressed: “We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that the US Navy is strengthening its already substantial fleet in the Middle East with two more destroyers to the region, one of which is equipped with an Aegis anti-missile system.

General Erik Kurilla, the head of US Central Command, held what could only be described as a war council with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday along with top Israeli military and defence ministry officials. “We are prepared to defend ourselves on the ground and in the air, in close cooperation with our partners, and we will know how to respond,” Gallant declared after the meeting.

Having deliberately provoked a confrontation with Iran, the Israeli regime is preparing to widen its genocidal war in Gaza throughout the Middle East. “Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday as he visited troops at an Israeli military airbase. “We are prepared … both defensively and offensively.”

Israel with Washington’s backing is already engaged in an escalating conflict with Iranian-linked Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon while carrying out airstrikes deep into Lebanon and Syria targeting senior figures in both Hamas and Hezbollah. At the same time, the US and allied forces continue to carry out attacks against Houthi militia in Yemen.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/04/13/irbi-a13.html
.

"World Socialist Web Site".

Shades of when Bandit and PSOL would find websites like "The Daily Lunchpail" to back them up with insane editorializing.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

So to be clear, if Netanyahu completely defies Biden and strikes Iran will Biden still try to intercept Iranian missiles fired in retaliation?

I certainly wouldn't, but like most boomers, Biden holds Israel to a far lower standard than he does the rest of the world. I think he will cave to Likud, this has been the pattern so far.

Put simply, Iran can't destroy Israel but Israel can destroy Iran. However, it will only do that if it is hit hard enough to extract a horrific response, similar to what Hamas caused. Therefore, yes, it is in everyone's interest that Biden will continue to deter Iranian attacks against our ally, and thank G-d we have a smart and practical president instead of the alternatives.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

So to be clear, if Netanyahu completely defies Biden and strikes Iran will Biden still try to intercept Iranian missiles fired in retaliation?

I certainly wouldn't, but like most boomers, Biden holds Israel to a far lower standard than he does the rest of the world. I think he will cave to Likud, this has been the pattern so far.

Put simply, Iran can't destroy Israel but Israel can destroy Iran. However, it will only do that if it is hit hard enough to extract a horrific response, similar to what Hamas caused. Therefore, yes, it is in everyone's interest that Biden will continue to deter Iranian attacks against our ally, and thank G-d we have a smart and practical president instead of the alternatives.

It isn't at all obvious that Iran can't destroy Israel (particularly if Israel didn't have American backup) but regardless you could just as easily say that Ukraine can't destroy Russia but Russia can destroy Ukraine, do you apply this same logic there?

If Iran was in the position to destroy Israel, it would cease to be able to within minutes, unless you're alleging they have secret nukes already.

As for Russia-Ukraine, we should be aiding our allies in both Ukraine and Israel against their barbarian attackers.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

Looking at this, it seems like another chess move - Iran sent massive force targeting civilians, but in a way that Israel could prevent. Israel responded with tactical strikes that didn't target civilians - but hit perfectly, sending the message of exactly what they could do if they escalate.