Israel vows retaliation after Iran attack

The long shadow war between Iran and Israel making itself known in the night skies above the Middle East. An unprecedented Iranian attack ultimately thwarted by Israel’s air defense systems and its allies. Israeli military claims nearly 99% of Iran’s missiles were intercepted. It released these images of what it says is an F35. Returning to a targeted air base, presumably to show what damage there was, has been minimal. The question remains whether escalation is inevitable. Iran described the attack as self-defense after a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1st, killing top commanders. Some Iranians celebrated the attack on Israel in Tehran, but military officials have signaled they’re hoping to now draw a line under it. There’s no intention to continue this operation, says Iran’s armed forces chief Mohammed Bagheri. But if the Zionist regime takes any action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, our next operation will be much bigger. Israel promised a response even before its war cabinet had met. Benny Gantz is one of its members. We will build a regional coalition and exact a price from Iran in the timing and fashion of our choice, he said. U.S. President Joe Biden urged restraint in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Washington won’t take part in any retaliatory attacks against Iran. That is a clear line aimed at Netanyahu, and if he were to decide to take that sort of retaliatory action, he is risking what is evidently Israel’s most important strategic asset, which is this relationship with the United States. I think it would be dangerous to do so. It remains unclear how these developments will impact the war in Gaza, overshadowed by this latest crisis and the new sense of peril it brings with it. And Margaret, Israel’s war cabinet is reportedly still considering its next step. That’s right, and we understand it’s a question of when, not if. But there are divisions over time and scale and a whole lot of considerations, including the deterrence factor that many Israelis feel was dented by Hamas on October 7th. And of course, not just the possibility of alienating its US allies, but other countries, including Jordan, who are urging Israel not to do anything that would risk tipping things towards a wider war. Margaret Evans in London tonight And it is that fear of a wider war, prompting many countries to both condemn the attack and appeal for calm. Sasha Petrucic shows us their reaction. We are a nation of lions. Amid finger pointing and threats, Iran’s attacks sparked a war of words at the UN Security Council. Iran’s operation was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense, Israel on the offensive. This attack crossed every red line and Israel reserves the legal right to retaliate. Everyone else trying to put the brakes on the Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full scale conflict. After an emergency video call, G7 leaders stressed their support for Israel to defend itself but unease at the prospect of military reprisal. All parties should exercise maximum restraint. And, echoing the US president, the White House made it clear again it would not take part in any counterattack. We don’t seek a wider war in the region. We don’t seek a war with Iran, leaving Israeli leaders with a difficult decision. And so if Israel wants a war with Iran, it’s going to find itself alone in that conflict. But Israel is used to acting without consulting others, and that was part of the problem when it hit the Iranian consulate in Damascus two weeks ago, says Canada’s ambassador to the UN. Nobody was consulted prior to the decision to to launch the attack in in Syria against the Iranian leaders. So I think it’s it is time for Israel to realize they’re not in this alone. There is pressure on Iran as well and it’s coming through. EU s s Mideast allies, both Jordan and Saudi Arabia were involved in intercepting some of the attack and now they’re warning Iran not to do it again. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Washington.