Israel has managed to weaken the Iranian representative forces in Lebanon and Gaza, but now faces the challenge of balancing its strategic objectives with the concerns of its allies, particularly the United States, about triggering a regional war. Two officials have communicated that Israel will avoid attacking Iran's nuclear and oil facilities, after thwarting Iranian missiles with the help of the U.S. and other allies, responding with its own attack and killing a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Beirut in July.
The Israeli government has agreed to focus its attacks on military targets in Iran, avoiding nuclear and oil sites to reduce the chances of a total war. When will the attacks take place? It is still unknown, but there is preparation by Israel for a 'lethal, precise, and surprising' counterattack. For decades, Israel and Iran have maintained a battle through third parties, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, with exchanges of cyberattacks and assassinations.
After an Iranian attack on October 7 of last year, Israel is now preparing to respond to a ballistic missile attack. Despite uncertainty about when it will happen, Israel has demonstrated in the past its ability to evade Iran's air defenses, showing strength in previous conflicts. President Biden has backed Israel and avoided an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, keeping conversations ongoing and closely monitoring the situation.
Leaked documents from U.S. intelligence revealed Israeli military preparations for a possible attack against Iran, evidencing the degree of concern in Washington. Additionally, the death of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, in Tehran has heightened tensions. Upcoming elections in the U.S. could influence the Israeli timetable, complicating relations between the two countries and the strategic decisions to be made.
