How will Israel respond to Iran's direct attack?
Iran’s weekend attack on Israel could escalate into a wider Middle East war
What happened
Israel's War Cabinet met late Sunday but did not decide how Israel should respond to Iran's Saturday attack. Israeli air defenses and U.S., British, French and Arab military assets shot down 99% of the more than 300 drones and missiles Iran fired at Israel. The strike, Iran's first direct attack on Israel after decades of shadow war, caused minor damage at an Israeli airbase and seriously injured a Bedouin girl, Israeli officials said.
Who said what
"We will build a regional coalition and collect the price from Iran, in the way and at the time that suits us," said Benny Gantz, one of three voting War Cabinet members. President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. won't participate in a retaliatory strike and said Israel's "spectacular" success in thwarting Iran's attack created "space and flexibility" to "slow things down and think through" the best response, a senior White House adviser said Sunday.
The commentary
For Israel, "striking back hard on Iranian soil could invite far more devastating retaliation" and fracture its new anti-Iran regional coalition, The Wall Street Journal said. "But not responding at all, or too weakly, could also erode deterrence," leaving Israel "vulnerable to future Iranian barrages."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
If Israel heeds "Biden's advice not to hit back, the Middle East might be able to take a breath," said Jeremy Bowen at the BBC. The U.S. expects "Israel to respond in some fashion," Politico said, but it's urging "a limited response as opposed to an all-out armed counterattack."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By The Week UK Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published