Daniel Flesch
Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel—its second in five months—put to rest any question that the Islamic Republic is in all-out war with the Jewish state. While the Middle East has been in a regional conflict since October 7, 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s firing of nearly 200 ballistic missiles signaled a significant escalation as the regime sees itself at risk of losing its regional empire of terror proxies.
Unlike in April, when it attacked from a position of strength, the October 1 attack came from a position of relative weakness as Iran’s regional capabilities are being actively degraded by unprecedented Israeli operations. Now is the time for the United States to join Israel in taking the fight to Iran itself.
Iran has portrayed its attack as a response to the July killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Israel’s airstrike on September 27 that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and most of its senior command in Beirut.
However, its timing—just days before the Jewish high holiday season begins and a week before the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7th attack, both highly symbolic moments—suggests that, rather than retribution for killing its proxy leaders, Iran is responding more broadly to Israel’s recent string of operational successes against Hezbollah and its commencement of a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.
In the span of 10 days, beginning with the pager attack on September 17 that targeted thousands of Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon and culminating in Nasrallah’s elimination, Israel has turned the tables on Iran’s most prized regional proxy. Now, when Iran surveys its Ring of Fire assets and strategy, it sees Israel on the march.
In Gaza, Hamas has been effectively neutralized as a military threat and the IDF has downgraded operations there to pivot north to engage Hezbollah. » Read More
https://www.heritage.org/middle-east/commentary/israel-must-ensure-iran-pays-price-starting-regional-war