Israeli restraint suggests Iran's strategic leverage
Hindustan Times|November 06, 2024
For 24 days between October 1 and 25, West Asia waited for Israel's inevitable retaliation to Iran's ballistic missile barrage which itself was a response to Israel's assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon (followed by the start of the Israel Defense Force's (IDF) ongoing invasion of South Lebanon).
Bashir Ali Abbas

When it came, in three waves before dawn broke in Tehran, it brought with it some markers of change.

In its attack, Israel struck key air defence systems around Iranian energy sites such as those in Abadan, Bandar Imam Khomeini, and Tang-e-Bijar. Notwithstanding attacks on Iranian missile production sites such as the complexes in Parchin and Parand, Israel effectively held back from attacking what these air defence sites were guarding.

This is the first time the IDF announced the conduct and completion of an operation in Iran in real time, breaking the traditional pattern of Israeli responsibility being inferred rather than expressly claimed.

The IDF's target profile of military installations in Iran was also proportionate to Iran's own target selection in Israel; in April, Israel's response to Iran's cruise missile/drone barrage was an unclaimed strike on a single Iranian air defence facility.

Both aspects mark a moment (even if fleeting) in West Asia, where Iran and Israel have engaged symmetrically conducting direct strikes on each other's territory, downplaying their impact, and asking the other side to walk away and de-escalate.

Given the military advantage that Israel holds over Iran, this exchange showed Tehran's ability to leverage regional and global geopolitics to limit Tel Aviv's hand.

Three crucial factors enabled this.

First, compared to Israel's other military choices in Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon where the IDF has acted with near impunity, Washington has been relatively successful in influencing Israel's tactical choices vis-a-vis Iran.

In April, Tehran relied on the Oman-facilitated backchannel to telegraph its upcoming attack, complemented by the slow conduct of its attack, announcements in Iranian media, and broadcasts on social media -- all of which made it more theatre-to-preserve-deterrence than an attack.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 06, 2024 من Hindustan Times.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 06, 2024 من Hindustan Times.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من HINDUSTAN TIMES مشاهدة الكل
Making A Miracle: How Team India Rewrote The Script In The First Test
Hindustan Times

Making A Miracle: How Team India Rewrote The Script In The First Test

His team had just been bowled out for 150 on Day 1 of the first Test of the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy but, in the dressing room, skipper Jasprit Bumrah was calmness personified.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 26, 2024
Hindustan Times

NBCC India plans to acquire sick PSUs, redevelop land banks

NBCC India Ltd has set its sights on acquiring defunct public sector undertakings (PSUs) to redevelop and monetise their land, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter, as the state-run construction company seeks to leverage success in developing land for some government-owned companies.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
Hindustan Times

T’gana rejects Adani’s 2100-cr donation

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday announced that the state government will not accept the 100 crore CSR donation pledged by the Adani Group for the Young India Skills University being set up in Ranga Reddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad, in the wake of \"present circumstances and arising controversies\".

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
6,000 kg drugs seized from vessel, 6 arrested
Hindustan Times

6,000 kg drugs seized from vessel, 6 arrested

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a vessel and arrested six Myanmarese nationals carrying 6,000 kg of contraband Methamphetamine near Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an official said.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
Hindustan Times

SC SEEKS STEPS TO STOP DISPOSAL OF WASTE IN YAMUNA ALONG TAJ MAHAL

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam to take immediate steps to prevent disposal of waste into portion of Yamuna flowing past Taj Mahal as the court set a deadline of one month for the authorities to act on the untapped and partially tapped drains emptying their untreated contents into the river.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
THE WIZARDS OF PERTH
Hindustan Times

THE WIZARDS OF PERTH

With odds stacked against them after a 3-0 home series loss to NZ, India pull off a stunning win in Perth

time-read
4 mins  |
November 26, 2024
'Lucky to have Aishwarya at home with Aaradhya,' says Abhishek amid divorce rumors
Hindustan Times

'Lucky to have Aishwarya at home with Aaradhya,' says Abhishek amid divorce rumors

Amid swirling rumors of a divorce, Abhishek Bachchan has seemingly broken his silence about his wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their daughter, Aaradhya.

time-read
1 min  |
November 26, 2024
Indian pacers hog limelight on Day 2 of auction
Hindustan Times

Indian pacers hog limelight on Day 2 of auction

Compared to the action-packed proceedings of the opening days when marquee names are up for grabs at IPL auctions with the teams having a big purse to splurge, the second day is usually low key with the interest mainly on who will be the next unknown name to hit the jackpot.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 26, 2024
RTM, a point of difference in bidding battles
Hindustan Times

RTM, a point of difference in bidding battles

The IPL auction is a one-of-a-kind mass entertainer, running successfully for 17 years.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 26, 2024
Ding shows steel, catches Gukesh by surprise to win opening game
Hindustan Times

Ding shows steel, catches Gukesh by surprise to win opening game

Indian teenager, playing with White, resigns after 42 moves as the Chinese current champion strikes first in the 14-game match

time-read
4 mins  |
November 26, 2024