The Israeli war cabinet has issued a statement expressing intent to take action against Iran, coordinated with the United States, to hurt Iran without causing an all-out war. On April 16, the war cabinet met for the third time to weigh actions.
The Bottom Line Upfront
The situation between Israel and Iran is escalating, with Israel considering a military response to Iran's recent attack. The involvement of the US and other countries adds to the complexity of the situation and raises concerns about the potential for a larger regional conflict.
Options Considered
A report by The Financial Times laid out the options the war cabinet is considering:
Further attacks on offshore proxies aimed at damaging Iran's reach in the Middle East.
Covert measures, such as cyber-attacks and assassinations.
Direct engagement with Iranian military installations, which could see the Israeli Air Force make a long-distance mission to strike sites in Iran.
Israel's brand of a drone swarm attack.
The Breakdown
Israel's war cabinet has stated their intention to retaliate against Iran, coordinated with the US.
The Biden administration has said it will not support a retaliatory attack on Iran, fearing further escalation.
Rather, U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken has been meeting with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, and the United Kingdom for diplomatic discussion in the aftermath of the Iranian drone swarm attack.
Iran has warned that it will hit back harder in response to any Israeli assault.
At the time of this report, Israel had warned that a response would follow, as Israel's military chief said Iran will "face the consequences" of its actions.
The Fallout
Response to the Iran drone swarm can have grave political consequences as well as strategic consequences for both Israel and its allies. Israel has faced political and legal consequences for its assault on Gaza. Geopolitical councils weigh whether war crimes have been committed against civilians in both Israel and Gaza since the start of the war on October 7.
For Israel's part, South Africa and other geopolitical players have accused the nation of genocide against civilians, in heated debates over the siege of the Palestinian region, which was a response to Hamas' bloody incursion into Israel. Legal and political opposition to the war adds gravity to Israel's measures moving forward against Iran.
In the United States, America First Legal has filed a lawsuit against President Joe Biden and State Secretary Blinken, accusing the two officials of knowingly supporting the Islamist terror organizations based in Palestine, and thereby violating the Taylor Force Act, an American law passed after Taylor Force, an American veteran and West Point graduate, was killed by a Palestinian terrorist. The Biden administration, bracing for the heat of the 2024 Presidential campaign cycle, will face the potential for heavy criticism of its response to its stance on its Israel assistance.
The Alliance
Despite the politically charged state of the regional conflict, the United States Department of State announced diverting the Iranian attack an effective joint effort:
"This was a shared success, and the United States is proud to have played a critical role in it," Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, in his opening remarks of the recorded press briefing.
"I also want to be absolutely clear: The United States commitment to Israel’s security is sacrosanct. Our contributions to Israel’s defense against Iran are a clear manifestation of that commitment," Miller continued.