PARIS UPDATE: Fire and Smoke Over Tehran
Years of planning culminate in Israel's assault on Iran, according to experts
Fluttering flags and clouds of smoke billow from a bridge in Tehran, as an oil refinery burns following an Israeli strike. The attacks, humbling Iran's military leaders and scientists, mark a dramatic escalation, experts affirm.
Over the past few days, Israel has launched an unprecedented assault on the Islamic Republic, killing top officials and scholars in the nuclear program. According to Israeli analyst Michael Horowitz, these strikes are the culmination of years of painstaking intelligence work and infiltration.
Over the weekend, Israel reported that it hit hundreds of targets and continued its attacks, striking a defense facility and fuel depots. The intensifying conflict takes place amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington about Iran's nuclear program.
Israel's efforts against Iran's nuclear ambitions date back fifteen years, with Horowitz emphasizing the strikes as the result of intensive intelligence gathering and infiltration. Israel has previously conducted punctuated attacks against Iranian military sites, with the latest operation prepared over several months.
Accusations of nuclear weapon ambitions beset Iran, yet it denies these claims. In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal with world powers in exchange for sanctions relief, but has since broken away from commitments made in the agreement.
The recent Israel attacks show "an impressive degree of precision and mastery," European security sources commented, as Israel demonstrated its ability to pinpoint and neutralize high-ranking officials and nuclear scientists.
Mossad agents were reportedly instrumental in the attack preparations, setting up weapon systems near air defense targets and launching them upon the attack commencement. Israel is rumored to have established an attack drone base within Iran, with drones smuggled in before the operation[1].
It remains uncertain whether the United States played a role in the recent strikes. Before the attack, President Trump advocated for diplomacy during the ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, but later stated that his administration had nothing to do with Israel's campaign[2]. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, claimed to have proof of U.S. support for the attacks.
As Israel and Iran exchange blows, external observers are left wondering who will gain the upper hand and when the conflict will reach its tipping point[3][4].
[1] Israeli intelligence gathering and operations in Iran: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/world/middleeast/israel-iran-mossad.html[2] Historical background on Israel-Iran relations and Mossad operations: https://www.chron.com/news/article/A-history-of-Israel-strikes-on-Iran-s-nuclear-15759884.php[3] Analysis of Israel's recent strikes on Iranian military and nuclear targets: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/24/israel-iran-strikes-suspected-nuclear-sites/[4] Impact and implications of Israel's campaign against Iranian nuclear capability: https://www.crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R46649/latest
- The escalating Israel-Iran conflict, centered around Iran's nuclear ambitions, has spilled over into war-and-conflicts, with political implications for general-news.
- As the conflict intensifies, the role of politics, including international diplomacy and allegations of foreign support, becomes increasingly significant in the war-and-conflicts between Israel and Iran.
