The Night of October 1st: A Sky Filled with Missiles
Iran vs Israel: Israel’s sky lit up on the night of October 1st, not by pyrotechnics but by the terrifying sight of rockets. More than 180 ballistic missiles were fired by Iran against Israel. These direct orders for launching the missiles came from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader and Head of State of Iran.
Conflicting Reports on Missile Impact Iran vs Israel
According to Iran’s IRGC, a component of its army, more than 90% of the missiles landed exactly on their targets. Israel said, on the other side, that its air defense system intercepted most of the missiles. Many released pictures clearly show the devastation these missiles produce.
Visible Destruction and Craters Iran vs Israel
You can see these craters in the images. For instance, there is a 30 feet deep crater right outside the Mossad’s headquarters. In southern Israel, the Negev desert, where a large Israeli military base is situated, was also targeted by many missiles. Although Israel claims that it suffered minimal damage in this attack, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed retaliation.
Israel’s Response and Determination on Iran vs Israel
“Iran made a big mistake tonight. And it will pay for it. The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies,” Netanyahu stated. The most important question that arises here is how and when Iran joined this war? The war that started last year after Hamas attack has expanded to many countries.
Expanding Conflict in the Middle East due to Iran vs Israel
Israel is assaulting Israel not just of Palestine but also Lebanon. Involved in this fight are several paramilitary organizations including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis as well as terrorist groups And nowadays, a nation like Iran is actively participating in it.Indeed, a lot of nations are engaged in this conflict. Should the state of affairs keep worsening like this, it can progressively become a Middle Eastern regional conflict. Still, labeling it World War 3 is a great exaggeration. Why should I say this? Since Iran has not attacked Israel once again this year.
Previous Attacks and Historical Context Iran vs Israel
Just a few months ago, on April 13, Israel was hit by more than three hundred missiles and drones. Looking at overall machinery used, this April attack was larger than the October one—roughly 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, and 110 ballistic missiles. It was the first strike of another nation on Israel in decades. Iraq under Saddam Hussein had fired missiles on Israel before to this, during the Gulf War of 1991.
The April Attack: A Case of Retaliation
But now, in April, what was the reason behind Iran’s attack? Iran calls it revenge, retaliation. Two weeks before that, around April 1st, Israel carried out an airstrike on Syria’s capital city, Damascus. In this airstrike, seven Iranian officers lost their lives, including a top general of the Iranian embassy.
The Aftermath of the Embassy Bombing
It is normal for a nation to respond passionately when army commanders die there. In this instance, Israel’s bombing on what it claimed to be a military building—not an embassy—caused notable tensions. Israel claims the murdered officer had intimate links to Hezbollah. But just what is Hezbollah, and how does it relate to Iran?
Israel’s Defense System: A Technical Overview
To familiarize ourselves with Hezbollah basic connections, it is pertinent first to know some technical issues of Israel’s protection. In the April attack, Israel was supported by fellow countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and even Jordan. The U.S. was able to intercept about 80 drones and 6 ballistic missiles and British Royal Air Force Typhoon intercepter aircrafts destroyed several drones. The Israeli own F-35 stealth fighter jets were able to intercept 25 of the 30 cruise missiles.
The Geographical Challenge Iran vs Israel
According to the map, Iran and Israel are somewhat far apart—the shortest distance is around 1,000 miles. This implies that it would take around two hours for Iran to accomplish its aim should it attack Israel with a drone. Effective defense thus depends on a strong intelligence system.
The Iron Dome: Israel’s Famous Defense System
The Iron Dome is Israel’s most famous defense system. It keeps the sky safe up to 10 km off in a circle of 70 km. Even though it’s called a “Dome,” it’s not really a shield around Israel. It is really a group of missiles that can see rockets coming at them and fire their own at them to stop them before they hit the ground. You’ll see this method used a lot in news stories about this subject. It’s called capture.
Beyond the Iron Dome: David’s Sling and the Arrow System
The Iron Dome effectively intercepts short-range missiles, but Israel has two more defensive systems for longer-range threats. David’s Sling is designed for medium to long-range missiles, providing protection across a radius of 300 km, up to 15 km in altitude. Nonetheless, given that Iran is 1,000 km distant, neither the Iron Dome nor David’s Sling can effectively neutralize such remote threats.
For these scenarios, IAF’s countering measure is the Arrow System, more pointedly, Arrow 3, which has the optimum vertical range of 2,400 km, and is capable of handling missiles launched from near space. Earlier this April, the Arrow 3 system managed to intercept a ballistic missile and record the action on video.
The Cost of Security
While these systems sound secure, they come with a significant financial burden. Operating them is extremely expensive. For instance, each Tamir missile launched by the Iron Dome costs $50,000. David’s Sling missiles cost $1 million each, and the Arrow System’s missiles cost several million dollars per missile. During the April attack, Israel spent around $200 million in just one day.
The Limitations of Defense
However, the above stated advanced systems of defense have some draw backs as a method of defense for Israel mainly occasioned by financial factors. However, in case of large scale missile attack these systems may be overloaded by the number and price. After the October attacks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani called the strikes limited and a right to self-defense.
In recent statements, the governments of Western countries have been encouraged to thank Tehran for not acting in a more destructive manner. Such a statement has been interpreted as a threat implying that Iran is telling Israel to be thankful for the previous laconic actions.
Iran’s Missile Capabilities
State-of-the-Art Missiles
First of all, it must be said that the weaponry of Iran is among the most modern ones. For instance both the 2023 Fatah missiles were produced the last year and recently used in some attacks. These missiles are not represented on the current map though their potential is quite powerful.
Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles
Furthermore, these missiles are designated as Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles, which means they move faster than sound. They can achieve speeds of 18,000 km/h, which is 15 times faster than the speed of sound. As a result, they can go from Iran to Israel in a matter of minutes. It states, “We’re able to precisely hit any target within the range of 870 miles, and there exists no system that can rival or counter this missile.”
Rockets vs. Missiles
Key Differences
It is very important for many people to differentiate between rockets and missiles, but it can be very difficult to do this. Even though at this point they may seem like interchangeable terms, the differences are enormous. For example, the rockets used by Hamas for an attack on Israel are not big and are fired in a projectile style. He outlined that they such targets need a crude idea as to where they will strike.
Precision Targeting
Conversely, ballistic missiles stand like a three-story building and have a targeting ability. The area of contact can be chosen; these missiles can leave the earth’s surface and come back again to make the hit.
Global Reactions on Iran vs Israel
United Nations Involvement in Iran vs Israel
In light of these developments, the [United Nations Security Council](https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/) called an emergency meeting following the April attack. During this meeting, the Secretary-General urged both sides to diffuse and de-escalate tensions.
Iran’s Proxies
The Axis of Resistance
Furthermore, groups like Hezbollah, Houthis, and Hamas have been attacking Israel for years. Since Israel’s retaliation and bombing of Gaza, the frequency of these attacks has increased. These three groups are viewed as Iran’s surrogates and together are called the Axis of Resistance. It is Iran that provides them with funds, and other material support from behind the scenes.
Hezbollah: A Closer Look
Historical Context
Hezbollah, specifically, is one of the most heavily armed non-state groups in the world. This Shia militant group gained power in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon. By 1985, Hezbollah became an official entity with a manifesto aimed at eradicating Western powers from Lebanon and demanding the destruction of the Israeli state. Almost all Western countries, including America and European nations, consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
Territorial Control
The southern part of Lebanon was occupied by Israel for nearly 22 years. However, it was Hezbollah that pushed Israel out of Lebanon in 2000. In 2006, another war between Hezbollah and Israel lasted for 34 days, with no clear victor. Today, a large part of Lebanon remains under Hezbollah’s control.
The Power Dynamics in the Middle East
This paramilitary group, Hezbollah, is actually more powerful than Lebanon’s own army to a large extent. Today, the war between Hezbollah and Israel has been ongoing openly for the past few months. It all began on 7th October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking the conflict. The next day, on 8th October 2023, Hezbollah officially declared a state of war against Israel.
The Houthis and Their Origins
On the other hand, if we talk about the Houthis, they were founded in the 1990s. The reason behind this was the Shia marginalization and increasing foreign influence in Yemen. Houthis are considered a terrorist organization by many countries, and they oppose Yemen’s government. Apart from Iran, it is said that Russia funds the Houthis too.
Regional Alliances and Conflicts
Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Yemen, supports the Yemeni government, as do Western countries. On this map, you can see that Saudi Arabia and Iran are two superpowers in the Middle East. These countries either support a neighboring government or the rebel groups opposing the government. In Yemen, Saudi supports the government, and Iran favors the rebels. In Iraq, Saudi favors the government, and Iran supports the Shia rebel groups. It’s the same in Syria as well as Lebanon.
International Perspectives
Internationally speaking, Western countries, including the US and EU, favor Saudi Arabia most of the time, while countries like Russia and China favor Iran more. So you can see the alliances of these countries, and this is why Saudi Arabia often takes a stand against Iran. Even though both are Muslim countries, Saudi Arabia is Sunni-dominated, and Iran is Shia-dominated.
The Ongoing Conflict Between Israel and Palestine
The present conflict between Israel and Palestine started last year in October when Hamas threatened Israel. After that, in retaliation, the Israeli forces entered the Gaza strip and attacked their neighbor. Israel attacked Gaza to the extent that the area cannot be inhabited again. Mortgaging has described it as genocide, with the majority of countries in the world agreeing with his sentiments. A documented 41,431 Palestinian were killed between October 7, 2023, and September 22, 2024. Among them, fifty percent and above are children and women, and over 2 million people have been affected by the crisis.
Cultural Reflections on the Conflict Iran vs Israel
Last year a Jewish film director named Jonathan Glaser got an Oscar for directing a movie about the Holocaust? I think this was in his acceptance speech in reaction to which he said that the wounds of the holocaust allows for torture of another community, and he had no want to be associated with that type of Jewishness. I like the movie of him that showed the facist aspiration in its best light – “The Zone of Interest”.
Hezbollah’s Strength and the Impact on Civilians
Now, in this current war, Hezbollah turned out to be very powerful. On the Israeli-Lebanese border, more than 80,000 Israelis had to leave their cities and towns because of the daily rocket fires. Meanwhile, the Houthis have disrupted the Red Sea by attacking any passing ships with missiles, leading to trade losses of nearly $1 trillion.
Iran’s Involvement and Retaliation Iran vs Israel
Before April’s attack, Iran was not directly involved in this war, although it was attacking through its proxies. However, they issued an official statement on April 14, stating that if the Zionist regime attacks their interests, assets, people, or citizens, they will counterattack. IRGC’s head, Hossein Salami, was the one to make this statement.
High-Profile Assassinations and Escalations
Then, on 31st July, there was a high-profile assassination in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated. The Palestinian militant group Hamas said that its political leader Ismail Haniyeh had been killed in Iran. Although no one officially took responsibility, Israel is being suspected.
The Cycle of Retaliation Iran vs Israel
After that, in July, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs said that blood “will never be wasted.” Since then, the retaliation warnings had begun. Two months later, on 17th September, there was the infamous “Pager attack” on Hezbollah. The Pager devices carried by many Hezbollah operatives exploded, killing many people. Then, on 20th September, there was another high-profile assassination: Ibrahim Akil, the commander of Hezbollah’s Special Operations Forces Unit.
Continued Tensions and International Reactions
These were Iranian proxies, so obviously, the Iranian government was not happy with this. Over the next few days, there were more high-profile assassinations. On 25th September, Hezbollah’s missile unit’s leader was assassinated. On 27th September, IRGC’s Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan was killed in an airstrike. This airstrike targeted Hezbollah’s main headquarters, and in this airstrike, Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was also killed. Despite losing their top leaders, the non-stop airstrikes on Lebanon continue to date. Hezbollah has been launching rockets towards Israel too.
The Broader Implications Iran vs Israel
The war has not stopped. There is still strife. The fighting has not stopped. Israel bombings in Lebanon led to the death of about 1000 people in the last week of September. The US and the UN have always deplored these raids but apparently Israel does not intend to cease conducting them. When Iran recently attacked on October 1, Israel did not find out that Iran would retaliate with missiles. In this facility, Israel warned that no indicator signaled that Iran would respond to its most recent attack on October 1st. But America was aware of this attack first and informed Israelis about it.
The Cycle of Violence Iran vs Israel
On 1st October, around 7:30 pm, the IDF confirmed that Iran had launched missiles towards Israel. The entire country was engulfed in the warning sounds of sirens. According to an Iranian news outlet, the IRGC claimed that the strike was motivated by the killing of Hezbollah’s commander. Iran was retaliating against Israel after it executed military attacks in Lebanon, killing Hezbollah officials. This Iranian strike may have been terrifying, but thankfully, just one person was killed—a Palestinian in the West Bank.
The Threat of Further Escalation
Despite this, the Israeli Minister of Finance has threatened that just like Gaza, Hezbollah, and Lebanon, they will make Iran regret attacking Israel. Their Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Iran has made a terrible mistake and Israel will retaliate. “Iran has made a terrible mistake; it will have to pay for it.” “We can defend ourselves and take revenge on our enemies.”
The Human Cost of Conflict
Overall, the point is, this is a series of retaliations. Everyone is taking revenge for something or the other, and the innocent civilians are the ones to lose their lives. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres gave a statement condemning the overall conflict instead of blaming a particular country. The Indian government’s reaction has been similar, as they have not issued any direct unequivocal condemnation of this attack by Iran.
The Role of the Weapons Industry
Friends, we need to understand that whenever a situation like this occurs anywhere, the common people are the ones to suffer the most. These politicians who keep retaliating one after the other, taking revenge after revenge, often do not have the support of their own people. Looking at the tit-for-tat approaches of these governments, many people consider the Weapons Mafia responsible for all these wars—the weapon manufacturers who sell their weapons internationally. If there are no wars, who will buy their weapons?
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