According to a report by the New York Times, Israeli leaders had initially planned a more extensive counterstrike on Iran following a drone and missile attack by Tehran on Israel over the weekend. However, pressure from the US and its allies led to a reduction in the scale of the operation.
The attack by Israel on Iran involved the use of drones and air-launched missiles, as confirmed by US officials and anonymous Israeli sources cited in the article. While Western officials believe that an Israeli missile struck an Iranian airbase, Tehran has downplayed the incident, referring to the drones as “children’s toys” that were easily taken down.
Initially, Israeli officials had intended a broader series of strikes targeting various military sites in Iran, including those near Tehran. However, diplomatic pressure from the US, UK, and Germany compelled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to opt for a more limited response, as reported by the New York Times.
This restrained response was aimed at preventing significant damage and reducing the chances of further escalation between the two countries, as highlighted in the report. The Israeli military has refrained from commenting on the matter, maintaining its standard policy of neither confirming nor denying strikes on foreign soil.
The recent escalation between Israel and Iran began with an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, resulting in the deaths of seven officers from the IRGC Quds Force. Subsequently, Iran retaliated by launching multiple waves of missiles and drones towards Israel, causing damage to an Israeli air base despite interception efforts.
