Israeli military actions against Iran allegedly initiated post Trump's presidential win - claims sources
In a dramatic turn of events, Israel launched multiple land and air strikes on Iran on June 13, 2024. The attacks targeted Iranian nuclear and military sites, marking a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between the two countries.
Israel's move was primarily driven by the perceived threat from Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launched "Operation Rising Lion" to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons that could threaten Israel's survival.
Several key factors influenced the timing of the attack. Iran had been launching missile and drone attacks against Israel earlier in 2024, which constituted an armed attack under international law. The escalation of proxy conflicts and regional instability, with increased Israeli strikes on Iran-backed groups and conflict activity in Gaza and Syria, also contributed to the decision to act decisively.
Israeli officials described Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs as "existential and imminent" threats. Netanyahu emphasized the need for preventive action to protect future generations of Israelis. Strategic military considerations and anticipation of retaliation were also factors in the timing of the attack.
Following the ceasefire, both sides claimed victory. Israel and the US asserted that they significantly degraded Iran's missile and nuclear programs, while Iranian authorities denied these claims. The proxy war between Israel and Iran had been progressively escalating, with a pivotal moment in April 2024 when Iran launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria.
Israel would maintain control over Iranian airspace to "destroy anything that even suggests that the Iranians are preparing to rebuild any of the capabilities that we have destroyed." The US defended Israel from these attacks and bombed three Iranian nuclear sites. Iran then struck a US base in Qatar.
Diplomats from Iran met counterparts from Germany, the UK, and France in Istanbul for talks on July 25, the first such meeting since Israel's mid-June attack on Iran. The negotiations did not bring an agreement, although counterparts described them as "constructive."
One proposed solution during the negotiations was a international enrichment agency that would allocate enriched uranium at civilian levels to all countries in the region interested in it. However, the possibility of Iran seeing the development of nuclear weapons as another path remains, but this is unlikely to be tolerated by Israel and its Western partners.
The re-election of Donald Trump in 2020 was a key pivotal moment, as the attack was delayed to wait for the US elections in November. The negotiations did not bring an agreement, although counterparts described them as "constructive."
Sources:
- The New York Times
- BBC News
- The Washington Post
- The Guardian
Given the escalating tension between Israel and Iran, the war-and-conflicts section of general news outlets such as The New York Times, BBC News, The Washington Post, and The Guardian closely monitored the political developments. The Israeli government's decision to launch "Operation Rising Lion" was primarily driven by concerns over Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities, seen as existential threats by Israeli officials. The attacks on Iranian nuclear and military sites marked a significant turning point in the long-standing political conflict between the two nations.
