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(April 21, 2024) With Israel facing overwhelming pressure from President Biden, its Friday retaliation against Iran was an exercise in minimalism.
Jerusalem did cross one important Iranian red line, at whose mere mention the Biden administration has quailed.
Bibi Netanyahu’s war cabinet authorized an overt attack against a target on the soil of Iran, which Israel had previously attacked only covertly.
Point therefore made, albeit one that should have made many years ago.
Beyond that, there is little to celebrate.
Jerusalem’s riposte to Tehran’s massive April 13-14 missile-and-drone attack on Israel has solved nothing else substantive. Iran continues closing its “ring of fire” around Israel, which will likely now refocus on finishing Hamas.
It is frivolous to say, as some do, that Israel has established “escalation dominance” over Iran, having struck the first and last blows.
In fact, the parties exchanged a few glancing blows, with no material change in their capabilities.
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