The response was more than three weeks in the making. In the early morning of Oct. 26, Israel launched a long-anticipated retaliatory strike against Iran, in answer to Iran’s near-200 missile attack of Oct. 1.
Israel’s response — titled “Days of Repentance,” in reference to the recent Yom Kippur holiday — lasted a mere four hours. But the scale of the attack and its precision in that short period of time made clear to Iran that its air defenses are no match for the Jewish state.
Israel’s air force had virtual free rein over Iranian airspace, as dozens of Israeli aircraft, including fighter jets, refueling tankers, reconnaissance planes and emergency rescue teams participated in the carefully planned and complex operation, which targeted Iranian air defense systems, military sites and facilities involved in the manufacture and launching of drones and ballistic missiles.
The operation began at approximately 2 a.m. local time. By 6 a.m., Israel announced the completion of its effort with “all goals achieved” and reported on the safe return of all participating aircraft and personnel.
Iran said little about the attack except to claim that its air defenses mitigated much of the damage. Israel, on the other hand, uncharacteristically confirmed having executed the operation, dismissed Iran’s claims of damage mitigation and made clear that the three waves of pinpoint attacks by the Israeli Air Force were in direct response to ongoing Iranian attacks.
The full parameters of the Israeli effort are not clear, but some details have been disclosed and more are coming out daily. The attack targeted approximately 20 sites over the course of the night, resulted in the death of at least four Iranian troops and involved the launching of more than 100 fighter jets and drones from Israel, which first attacked air defense batteries and radars in Syria and Iraq, on their way to Iran.
Many commentators believe that both Israel and Iran are withholding many details of the Israeli response to minimize exposure of Iran’s surprisingly limited ability to defend against Israel’s military power, provide Iran cover for internal purposes and help create an environment where Iran doesn’t feel the need to pursue more missile and drone attacks on Israel in order to redeem its honor.
The Biden administration breathed a massive sigh of relief upon being informed in advance and then confirming the scope of Israel’s attack, following weeks of very direct pressure by the U.S. for restraint by Israel in what was acknowledged to be the Jewish state’s clear right to respond to Iran’s attacks and provocations.
While many in Israel and in the pro-Israel community openly encouraged a more aggressive military response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks — including the targeting of Iran’s nuclear facilities and its oil production and reserves — the more restrained response was the one chosen by Israel’s leaders. Nonetheless, the targeted and limited nature of Israel’s response was coupled with the very clear warning to Iran that further attacks on the Jewish state and its population will risk a far more comprehensive response without the same restraint.
Now might be a good time for Iran to start thinking about the real message of the “Days of Repentance.”
Someone leaked the Israeli bat6tle plan to the media. The FBI is supposedly investigating this treason, but I’m not holding my breadth waiting for anyone being prosecuted. It’s likely that the Biden/Harris administration gave the orders on the plans exposure since it short circuited the Israeli attack, coincidentally limiting the damage done to Iran. Let’s see if the culprit is found and prosecuted or whether more likely nothing happens.
I find it hard to believe that they would leak it to a pro-Iran site.