16 October 2024 | Middle East desk
Israel has reportedly told the United States that it plans to target Iran’s conventional military infrastructure as part of any attacks on the country, not its nuclear and oil sites, in a major disclosure amid growing tensions in the Middle East. Israeli officials have allegedly told their American counterparts that any such operation would weaken the conventional military capabilities of Iran and would not devastate the country’s nuclear program or energy industry, sources close to the matter said yesterday.
Strategic Military Focus
Focusing all attention on Iran’s military assets, rather than its nuclear facilities or economic lifelines, Israel strategises to avoid direct escalation into full regional conflict. They target conventional military installations to disrupt the ability of Iran to return a threat to its own security while heading away from a head-on collision that would eventually lead to disrupting global energy markets.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that military planners are now examining and evaluating Iranian missile bases, air defense systems, and other command centers in search of targets. “Our goal is to reduce Iran’s military threat against Israel and the region without sparking a full-scale war that might get completely out of hand,” the official said.
Briefing to the US and Concerns
The Israeli government at that time is also communicating with Washington, part of the latter’s continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent any further flare-ups in the region. Although President Biden has maintained a strong alliance with Israel, reports reaching here indicate that officials in Washington remain concerned over possible fallout from an Israeli strike, the biggest issue being Iranian retaliation against US forces or allies in the region.
The U.S. is urging restraint and emphasizing de-escalation and very careful consideration of the broader regional impact, including the safety of American personnel in the Middle East,” said a senior U.S. defense official, who also requested anonymity for telling the story of an increasingly tense standoff. While Washington understands Israel’s security concerns, it is urging restraint.
“Iran reserves the right to take other measures if the conflict escalates,” the statement said, according to Iranian media reports.
Iran replied defiantly to the Israeli military threats. “Any attack on Iran will be met with a crushing response,” the Iranian military officials threatened. According to him, “It will not be limited to Israeli territory.” He hinted at the potential targeting of U.S. military bases in the region or attacks on Gulf Arab states that may be allied with Israel.
Tehran has rejected all allegations that it sought nuclear weapons and at one point described its nuclear program as a peaceful pursuit. But with Israeli rhetoric now more menacing than ever, the threat of military action now appears decidedly closer to nearer and likelier, especially as diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 deal seem to be up against a brick wall.
Regional Impact
A strike by Israel against Iranian military facilities could whip up rising tensions throughout the Middle East, which is already a tinderbox environment of proxy conflicts and alliances. In addition to its chain of proxy forces across the region, especially in Lebanon with Hezbollah and militia groups in Iraq and Syria, Iran could retaliate against Israel or the United States for a strike.
Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, some of which have edged closer to Israel in recent years over shared unease about Iran, are watching with great interest. The GCC has cautioned that any military intervention could destabilize the global oil markets it remains dependent on.
Moving ahead of the scheduled nuclear talks between world powers and Tehran, Israel has chosen to hold back from striking Iran’s nuclear facilities-this is a strategic balancing act in itself. On one hand, Israel has always been against the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program, which it saw as an existential threat. On the other hand, by not attacking nuclear or oil infrastructure, Israel seems to be focusing on decreasing the fallout of a military strike on its people while maintaining pressure on Iran’s growing military presence in Syria, Lebanon, and the broader region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Iran, which he stated is the biggest threat his country faces in the region, need not have any fear of being attacked by Israel. “We will not let Iran threaten our existence,” declared Netanyahu at a recent address, spelling out no clear plans to attack the Iranians.
International Reaction:
Internationally, reactions to the possible Israeli strikes are mixed. European nations, still heavily invested in their diplomatic efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal, have called for restraint on all sides. Russia is also concerned over any kind of military escalation because it is a key player in Syria, and is an ally of Tehran, which may destabilize the whole region.
The United Nations has urged all parties to “pursue diplomacy and avoid military conflict.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres added, “This is a moment for de-escalation and dialogue, not war.”
The Way Forward
A war with limitations in terms of area of conflict, whose focus is on military entities, has proven very fluid. The region waits for a reaction and an uncertain future as negotiations continue. With Israel standing at the ready to act and Iran getting increasingly defiant, a crucial period in Middle Eastern geopolitics awaits.
It is a developing story, and more updates will follow when more information is available.
