Israel, with the United States in its backline, came out reasonably intact after an alleged Iranian ballistic missile attack through its sophisticated missile defence (BMD) program. This alteration has changed the way the long-lasting rivalry between Israel and Iran manifests itself: a focus on indirect warfare more than on a direct exchange.
Israel’s aerial attack on the Damascus consulate annexe was dangerous enough to provoke Iranian retaliation. Signs of an imminent Iranian attack were spotted days before. In the meantime, the American, Israeli, and Jordanian BMD systems had a chance of getting ready in view for the fast-ensuing attacks of Iran’s missile and drones.
The United States and its allies have not made any official statement with regard to their ability to overcome the cyber-attacks yet. The missile shields from the Israeli army, namely the Iron Dome, Patriot, and David’s Sling, hit their target to destroy those few which managed to escape their anti-missile defence. While Israel can use its strength to choose its reaction, which is obliterating Iran’s destroyers, Iran has virtually no air and sea power, but it might reply by using ballistic missiles and its proxies (Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas, and others).
The Israel-Iran war is believed to be detrimental to the region, although it might provide ample grounds to spark some wider regional unrest. Moving forward, it is hard to doubt that Tehran will use proxies militarily to destabilize the region while Tel Aviv deploys its military superiority in a reciprocal attack. The end seems to be the first stage of the hostilities between Israel and Iran, but they are not enough to calm the Middle East, which shows that the situation is highly sensitive.
