Israel’s war council meets again today at 14:00 to decide the response to the Iranian missile attack, while world leaders call for restraint and experts analyze the scenarios regarding the form that Tel Aviv’s response may take. in Tehran.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said today that the Middle East is “on the brink” and called for a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran.
“We are on the edge of the cliff and we have to move away from it,” Borrell told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “We have to hit the brakes and put it in reverse.”
Borrell said he expects Israel to respond to the unprecedented airstrike it received from Iran, but hopes its response will not trigger further escalation.
“To avoid an answer to the answer”
He said there was a “deep division” within the ruling right-wing coalition between hard-liners, who seek fierce retaliation, and a “more moderate and prudent” faction.
That faction supports retaliation, Borrell said, “but in a way that avoids a response to the response.”
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris will do everything it can to avoid further escalation of the conflict. “We are all worried about a possible escalation,” Macron said in an interview with television network BFM TV and radio station RMC, accusing Tehran of causing a “deep rift” by deciding to “strike Israel” from its soil.
Chancellor Olaf Solz today warned Iran not to launch another attack on Israel, but noted that the Israeli government should also help de-escalate tensions.
Yesterday, the leaders of the countries of the Group of Seven most developed industrialized countries (G7) “unanimously” condemned the military attack by Iran, which “with its actions”, “risks causing uncontrolled regional escalation”.
Tehran says Western countries “should have appreciated Iran’s restraint over the past months”, “rather than leveling accusations”.
By land or by sea the blow of Israel
Speaking about the developments in the Middle East, Stelios Fenekos, rear admiral, stressed to MEGA that the movement of the Iranians was budgeted.
“Iran wanted to give Israel room to manage it on its own terms. I think what matters a lot are the diplomatic efforts from the US,” he said.
Among other things, he said that the easiest solution for Israel is an attack from the sea, however he noted that such a conflict is not in Israel’s interest.
It is recalled that President Isaac Herzog noted that “Iran’s attack is equivalent to a declaration of war” and added that “all possibilities are open” after Iran’s aerial attack with hundreds of drones and missiles.
“Israel’s reaction will be limited”
“Israel cannot do it alone. His reaction will be limited”, assessed Vice Admiral Athanasios Papanikolaou.
He added: “Other than ballistic missiles that can have some effect, an airstrike is almost impossible. It’s a long distance, it has to go through the airspace of countries that have to allow it. Turkey will not allow it, Syria, Iraq, Jordan will not allow it. Unless he does some Iraq-style operation to hit nuclear plants, but even that is difficult because of the distance.”
I estimate that nothing will be done in the context of what we have seen these days. It will not be a massive operation, noted Mr. Papanikolaou.
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