In response, Iran has launched more than 100 drones at Israel.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former senior British Army officer, said that while Iran has been humiliated by the attacks, it has limited actions for a response.
“What you would have expected a few years ago is that Iran would rely on its proxies, particularly Hezbollah and the Houthis and Hamas, [to respond],” he said. “But the Israelis have pretty much destroyed Hezbollah. They are no longer an effective fighting force. The Houthis in a similar fashion, and what’s left of Hamas is focused on Gaza.”
“At the moment, it’s very difficult to see how Tehran could retaliate in any way that would really affect Israel,” de Bretton-Gordon said.
The Islamic regime has said its nuclear programme “only serves peaceful purposes” as a deterrent and that “nuclear weapons have no place in our doctrine”, but this has been met with skepticism by some analysts.
However, it does have some of the capabilities needed to create a bomb, including the ballistic missiles that could theoretically be used to carry nuclear warheads, and uranium supplies.
“The concern is whether these attacks finally convince Iran that it has no choice but to develop a nuclear weapon and whether Israel has done sufficient damage to prevent Iran from being able to act on such a decision,” she said.
2. Red Sea conflict reignites
A wave of attacks killed sailors and caused chaos for global shipping, a key part of international trade, before a ceasefire was agreed between the US and the Houthis last month.
The US has already evacuated non-essential staff from Iraq out of fear of retaliatory attacks.
“The fragile US-brokered ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen now hangs in the balance – potentially unravelling if the group is mobilised to act on Iran’s behalf,” she said.
square MIDDLE EAST How Iranian retaliation could draw in US forces and set the Middle East on fire
Read More
The first ship sunk by a Houthi attack, in early March last year, was a British-owned vessel, and the UK has been involved in airstrikes on Houthi bases in Yemen.
“Their response is likely to go far beyond continued attacks on Israel,” he said.
In August 2024, the Greek-owned oil tanker Sounion hit by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis off the coast of Hodeida while carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil. (Photo: Euvanfor Aspides/ AFP via Getty Images)“Attacks by the Houthis on US military bases in the Gulf, the Horn of Africa, and naval forces at sea are also highly plausible.”
“Certainly the music coming out of Whitehall at the moment is to sit back,” he said.
“Britain still has some very considerable intelligence collecting capability, and Britain historically has a role and an interest in Iran.
Read Next
square TECHNOLOGY Big ReadRead More4. Middle East is destabilised
Further attacks risk widening the attacks into a regional conflict, Chatham House director Maddow Brown said.
“The strikes could destabilise Syria where the success of the new government – or otherwise – will affect the wider region.”
Ozcelik said that Iran’s retaliation “risks reshaping the strategic landscape of the Middle East.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The four ways the Iran-Israel conflict could lead to wider war )
Also on site :
- Jury begins deliberations in Mike Lindell defamation trial in Denver over election conspiracies
- Star-Studded Tribute to Brian Wilson With Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Elton John and More Re-Airing on CBS
- Riverside County pays $1.3 million to Wildomar man whose face was broken by deputies