What Iran’s failed attack tells us about Israel

The Spectator ^ | 04/15/2024 | Fraser Nelson

[who_would_fardels_bear]

There was a report in the Financial Times a day or two before the Iranian attack. The claim was that Iran and the US, and even Israel talked over the attack ahead of time. The idea was that the attack would only do minimal damage to an Israeli military installation. This would allow Iran to save face to its proxies without giving Israel justification for escalating toward WWIII.

Whether or not the report was based on good intel or insider information, the result was spookily close to what ended up happening.

If Israel did get a head's up, and not just from the slow deployment of the drones, then there are two equally disturbing possibilities:

1) The few missiles that did get through were allowed to get through in order for Iran to hit some targets and gain some face, or

2) The few missiles that did get through are so fast that they pose a real threat to Israel despite the Iron Dome.

If Israel did get prior notice, then they are either going back on their deal and deciding to escalate, or Netanyahu is going back on their deal because of pressure from hardliners and his desire to stay in office.

This is all speculation, but it is out there and the problems in the Middle East have always been spurred by different interpretations of the same incidents.

Every side will see what they want to see. Every incident will be interpreted to ratify preconceived notions. The conflicts will continue. Armageddon will eventually befall us. Hopely later rather than sooner.