Nes is Hebrew for miracle, and what we saw last night indeed was a miracle. We should begin by recognizing this and expressing gratitude to the Almighty.
Consider: some 300 projectiles were launched by Iran towards Israeli airspace. These included 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles, the most dangerous of the weapons launched towards us. Of these projectiles, 99% were taken out before they reached Israeli airspace. The only ones that made it into our airspace were ballistic missiles.
I want to keep this brief – obviously with more to follow – because I want to send it out. I caution as I have on previous occasions that different sources are providing somewhat different information, and so it is difficult to be precise at some points.
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Projectiles launched by Iran were eliminated in two ways. One way was via defensive missiles. Israel has an aerial defense array, set up years ago to combat different sorts of threats. For low level rockets such as Hamas launches, the Iron Dome is effective – but not against heavier weaponry that comes in from a longer distance at a higher altitude. For medium range incoming projectiles there is David’s Sling. And for longer range missiles launched at higher altitudes there are two Arrow Missiles. Arrow 3, the most precise and effective weapon against ballistic missiles was used in this situation.
Many of the projectiles were eliminated by the Israeli Air Force utilizing Adir F35 fighter jets as well as F15 jets. (One pictured below returning from its mission.)
US pilots cooperated with us in this effort, for which we are grateful. (More on this follows.) Apparently at some modest level so did Britain, and I have read, also France. Jordan aimed at projectiles in its airspace. While there was a significant defensive motive in doing this, it also demonstrated a kind of support for Israel that is appreciated.
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Ballistic missiles entered the airspace over Jerusalem. This I can attest to personally, as I heard the huge explosions as they were taken out – explosions that caused windows across Jerusalem to rattle.
No one was killed during this extensive attack. One seven-year-old Bedouin girl was injured seriously by shrapnel. There was no serious injury to infrastructure. A missile struck Nevatim Airbase, a very large base in the Negev. There was only minor damage, and the base is continuing to operate.
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What took place is notable for two reasons: This is the first time that an attack came directly from Iranian soil and not from Iranian proxies – Hezbollah, Hamas, PIJ, Houthis in Yemen. (For the record, some small number of drones were launched from elsewhere.) Additionally, the size of the attack – the number of projectiles launched – was record-breaking. This was likely the largest number of drones ever launched at one time. It is referred to as a swarm.
This is not what had been expected. As I have been writing, based on what was being projected, it was thought that Iran would either use proxies, or attack from Iranian soil outside of Israel proper, targeting Israeli installations.
However, even as this was not expected, our intelligence was superb (and the US shared intelligence as well), so we knew what was going to be launched before the attack and were well prepared. We had been prepared for the eventuality of such an attack for years.
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The question – the major question – is what happens now. Will there be an Israeli military retaliation? Many are convinced that it is essential, that Iran must not be allowed to imagine that such an attack is without repercussions.
I have read that Prime Minister Netanyahu and the War Cabinet were prepared to retaliate immediately but were dissuaded by the US. And here we go again.
Last night, Joe Biden was magnificent. He tweeted: “I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel. Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.” (Emphasis added)
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But in short order, Biden placed a call to Netanyahu to tell him that the US will not support a retaliatory attack on Iran. “You got a win. Take the win,” he said.
Reportedly, Netanyahu said he understood. Biden’s fear is getting the US involved in a larger war.
But this is his approach to taking out Hamas all over again.
Biden, instead, turned to the G7:
“The Group of Seven (G7) leaders have condemned Iran’s massive, unprecedented early-morning attack Sunday on the State of Israel, and say they’re determined to prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control into a regional escalation.
“The intergovernmental political and economic forum is comprised of the top seven major IMF advanced economies, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, with the European Union (EU) as a ‘non-enumerated member.’
“The body met Sunday afternoon in an urgent effort to find a way to persuade Israel not to launch a military response to Iran’s massive attack, but rather to allow its members to come up with a diplomatic formula instead.”
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But a diplomatic formula – sanctions, etc. – is not sufficient. And it’s not because I say so – although I do say so: a good number of the members of the government as well as political/military analysts think so.
Yet here we go again. The world makes it tough for us to proceed. This is a bitter situation.
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Alex Traiman of JNS interviewed military analyst Yaakov Lappin, whom I often cite, on this issue. I watched it as a live Zoom and it is not yet up as a YouTube on the JNS site. Lappin is solidly of the opinion that we must retaliate against Iran. Significantly, he says there are ways to inflict damage on Iran without sparking the major escalation that many fear.
According to Lappin, we should take action against Iran quickly, and then turn to finishing Hamas – this must not be neglected. Then we must turn to Hezbollah.
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We have kicked the can down the road for many years, with regard to confronting Iran. But everyone acknowledges that all of the problems we have, with Hezbollah, Hamas, etc. stem from Iran, even as we speak about this and then skirt around the issue.
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The War Cabinet has yet to make a decision. Many ministers in the government are solidly for a military retaliation. But the War Cabinet makes the decision. The Cabinet sits with a number of security officials, faction heads, etc., but the only ones who vote are Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity Party and Minister in the current unity government; Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (Likud), and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.
This afternoon, Gantz declared that Israel must strengthen the “strategic alliance and the regional cooperation” that allowed it to weather the Iranian attack. “Faced with the threat of Iran, we will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran, in the way and at the time that suits us. And most importantly, in the face of the desire of our enemies to harm us, we will unite and become stronger.” (Emphasis added)
He did not rule out an eventual attack, and perhaps he’s holding out for the element of surprise. But we can see where this seems to be going. Obviously, decisions will not be announced publicly. If we attack Iran, we will know that the decision was made to attack Iran.
I wonder if this situation might be parlayed into getting the international community to support our going into Rafah and taking out Hamas, the Iranian proxy.
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Let your elected leaders in the US know that it is not only the progressive left that votes – that you are demanding support for Israel. Especially now!!
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Keep praying to Heaven for Israel. Pray for the strength and wisdom of our leaders, for the safety of our soldiers, and for the rescue of our hostages. Pray with a heart filled with hope.
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© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by independent journalist Arlene Kushner. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.
