Israel Strikes Iran!

Israel has struck 100 targets overnight. Hitting targets, including military sites, nuclear sites, with top Iranian commanders and personnel dead. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, said the US had nothing to do with it. He stated that the operation was Israel acting on its own. However, the Iranian Foreign Minister wasn't so sure. He poured scorn on the idea that it is just Israel acting on its own. The question is, could Israel conduct such an operation on its own? Israel has bombed Iranian targets before, when it attacked selected targets across Iran after Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. Back in 1981, Iran attacked Iraq's nuclear site in Baghdad. So, certainly Israel can hit targets beyond its border. It has bombed the Houthis in response to their attacks on its territory. How much the US aids or does not aid Israel in such attacks is open to question.

Iran launched drones at Israel in response; however, according to reports, these projectiles were intercepted. Israel has one of the best air defence systems in the world. So, most projectiles aimed at Israel get shot down. However, some get through, whether it be from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, or the Houthis. They have inflicted small to large damage on Israeli targets.

Iran is supposed to have a good integrated air defence. The Russian S-300 and a copy of the same system made by the Iranians. However, no Israeli aircraft were shot down and all returned, according to IDF reports, safely. Would Israel even admit if it had lost planes over Iranian airspace? One cannot tell in the fog of military operations.

Donald Trump, in a heated 40-minute telephone conversation, told Netanyahu not to attack Iran. However, it seems Bibi (Netanyahu) was having none of it. Trump expressed his fear that Israel was going to act unilaterally with or without the US's blessing. And so, as they say in Scripture, "It came to pass"!

So, where does this leave the US-Iran nuclear talks? One might say in tatters. Iran and the US have been talking for weeks and weeks about the future of Iran's nuclear industry. Trump has stated time and again that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons. Trump said Iran's nuke industry must be ended, even for civilian use. Iran seems to have been happy not to have nuclear weapons in line with the fatwa from Ayatollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader. However, Iran has refused to stop enriching uranium for civilian use, "It is non-negotiable", said the Iranian Foreign Minister. It seems Trump was considering compromising on Iran's civilian nuclear programme. However, the IAEA, the body that oversees nuke programmes, said Iran was producing more nuke power than was necessary for a so-called civilian programme. Whether that is real or it bowed to the US and Israeli fear of Iran's nuke programme, is another thing.

Israel itself is suspected of having nuclear weapons, but it never says if it has or hasn't. Israel, as far as I know, has never been investigated by the IAEA. If an attempt were made, the US would block it. The question is: "How come Israel can get away with having suspected atomic weapons, and others like Iran, cannot"? I believe Iran has signed the non-nuclear weapons proliferation treaty, whereas Israel, as far as I know, has not. Double standards, me thinks.

So, now with or without Trump's blessing, Israel has bombed Iran well and good. The US has been evacuating staff from diplomatic places in the Middle East and military facilities. Just in case Iran targets these places. Iran may target these places because the US is seen as an ally of Israel. Marco Rubio says the US does not want to get involved in a war between Iran and Israel, if God forbid, such a thing should come about. Mr. Rubio said the US would hit back if Iran attacked these sites.