The attack was unprecedented not just in its scale but in being, for the most part, launched directly from Iran. As such, it represented a new and immensely threatening stage, as a potential state-to-state conflict, rather than one conducted through proxies. No one – not Iran, not Israel, not the surrounding states, not the European countries and especially not the United States – was under any illusions about the possible consequences.
Modern reconnaissance and communications capacities meant that the awareness was widely shared, giving time – on the positive side – for those in the likely target zones to seek shelter but also for many, many more people in the region and beyond to chart, and dread, the approach of war in real time.
In the end, for those watching through the night or waking up to the news, the feared cataclysm was avoided. Israel’s defences, bolstered by US, French and UK air support, succeeded in disabling almost all the firepower unleashed by Iran. According to Israel, there was limited damage to an air base in the Negev desert, and one child was injured. At the barest minimum, this can be described as a major success for the defence of Israel and should, it must be hoped, avert, or at least delay, the much-feared regional conflagration.
Here, though, much of the certainty ends, and the questions begin – many of them doubtless being addressed at the emergency government and alliance meetings being held around the world today.
This story is from the April 15, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 15, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Courageous Brighton rock Man City to reach top four
Brighton staged a sensational late fightback to come from behind and send Manchester City to a fourth consecutive defeat with a pulsating 2-1 win at the Amex Stadium.
Doubt creeps in as England.stung at the death again
Another week, another heartbreak for England and now serious questions must be asked about the direction of the Steve Borthwick project.
'Guys on mopeds were beating up an Israeli... they were looking for Jews'
Football hooligans and ‘antisemitic hit-and-run squads' made for a volatile Amsterdam atmosphere, reports Barney Davis.
Inside 4B - the women's group going on ‘men strike'
Zoë Beaty meets an American who's become a symbol for the growing movement of females rejecting relations with men
Qatar to suspend mediation efforts on Gaza, say officials
Qatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials said yesterday, after growing frustration with the lack of progress on a ceasefire deal for Gaza.
Biden bears brunt of blame game among the Democrats
Fingers are pointing at the president after Donald Trump's sweeping victory - but some strategists argue other factors played a part in Kamala Harris's defeat, writes
Chief of staff dubbed ice maiden by Trump will keep 'clowns' out of Oval Office
Informal advisers that dogged first presidency to be got rid of
Coroner's warning of cancel culture after student suicide
A coroner has called on the government to examine the prevalence of \"cancel culture\" on university campuses, after ruling that a 20-year-old Oxford student took his own life after being \"ostracised\" by his peers.
'I did not know you could be born without a uterus'
Andreia Trigo is dedicated to helping others struggling with infertility because of her own diagnosis of MRKH syndrome
Healey says Ukraine war inspired son to join army
The defence secretary has revealed his son joined the army as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying the conflict is now “personal”.