Let's dispense with a few lies you will likely hear in the coming days: Lie #1: "Israel started this with its airstrike in Damascus." False. Iran has been maintaining a constant assault on Israel for decades via its proxies in the region – chief among them Hezbollah, which is wholly funded, armed, and controlled by the Iranian regime. That assault has only intensified since October 7. Hezbollah has fired rockets and missiles into northern Israel on a near-daily basis for more than six months, causing the depopulation of much of northern Israel. Tens of thousands of Israelis have not seen their homes in half a year due to this Iranian-directed assault; many of their homes no longer exist, having been destroyed by Hezbollah's rockets. The Houthis, another Iranian proxy group based in Yemen, have also fired numerous missiles at southern Israel. Finally, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been funded, armed, and trained by Iran for years and the Iranian regime views the Palestinian terror groups as part of its offensive efforts against Israel. There has not been a single day in the past six months in which Iran, via its various proxies in the region, has not attacked Israel. The airstrike in Damascus targeted individuals directly responsible for Iran's ongoing assault on the Jewish state. Lie #2: "The target of Israel's airstrike in Damascus was a diplomatic facility." False. The notion that the target of the Damascus airstrike was a mere "Iranian consulate" is laughable. The building was a local headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and multiple other countries. Those killed were senior figures in the IRGC, including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the IRGC's foreign operations unit who was responsible for liaising with Hezbollah, and his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahim. Five other IRGC officers were killed in the airstrike, as were five Iranian-affiliated militiamen, one Hezbollah operative, one Iranian military advisor, and two apparent civilians. The airstrike was aimed at military figures in a military facility and the targets were directly involved in orchestrating attacks on Israel. The fact that the building was adjacent to the Iranian embassy does not change its military character. Lie #3: "Israel carried out the Damascus airstrike in order to provoke a wider war." False. For months, Israel has limited its military response to the ongoing assault by Iranian proxy groups to tit-for-tat airstrikes and artillery fire directly targeting the sources of the attacks. The reality, however, is that large swaths of northern Israel have been uninhabitable due to the ongoing Hezbollah attacks, which are being directed by the group's patron, Iran. The only way to force Hezbollah to stop its assault on northern Israel and restore calm is to target the Iranian military officials behind the attacks. That is what the Damascus airstrike was intended to do: to end the impunity enjoyed by Iranian military officials as they oversee ongoing attacks targeting the people of Israel. Lie #4: "Any Israeli response will cause the situation to escalate further." False. The unprecedented Iranian assault on Israel, which involved hundreds of missiles and drones, was the escalation. It has been roundly condemned around the world. Israel will respond to this unparalleled act of aggression as any sovereign country would, not least in order to deter the Iranian regime from carrying out further attacks against Israeli territory and send the message that Israel will not tolerate massive attacks on its sovereign territory by a foreign state. Lie #5: "The relatively limited damage from the Iranian attack means it's no big deal and Israel should let it go." False. The Iranian assault was absolutely unprecedented in its scope and severity. The only reason it didn't cause widespread damage and massive casualties is because Israel and its allies have, for years, invested billions of dollars in developing sophisticated air defense systems against the threat posed by Iran. Most of the missiles and drones were intercepted before they reached Israel's borders because Israel and its allies were prepared for them. But make no mistake: this Iranian attack was meant to rain death and destruction on the people of Israel. If Israel doesn't respond, it will open the door to further and more severe attacks by Iran, which has stated its desire and intention to destroy the Jewish state on numerous occasions. No other country would be asked to put up with that. Neither should Israel.
@AviMayer If Iran had been using proxies to attack US citizen on their homeland, you can bet the US would strike Tehran. Israel uses more restraint than it's credited.
Avi your points have all the same flaws that the entire war on Gaza has had. International law is on Iran’s side following article 51 of the UN charter whereas Israel targeted a nation who had not fired a shot at Israel. Your defense of Israel targeting of Iranian Generals would be the same as saying it would be ok for Russia to target US or other NATO generals for supplying arms and intel to Ukraine or saying that Iran could attack the US for supplying Israel with arms and intel in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
@AviMayer Israel attacked am embassy, all countries agree due to the special status of an embassy that this is an act of war. So how about you stop there. Because you sir, are a liar. Under article 51 Iran has the right to respond to Israels attack.
@AviMayer @MattRJBrodsky Zionist Lies. TLDR.
I would suggest @bbclysedoucet reads your clear analysis & reflects on the appalling piece she wrote on @BBCNews on Sat am - she made out that the main aggressor is Israel rather than Iran; barely mentioned Iran’s massive support for Hamas (highlighted just this week by the amount of money transferred), the proxy wars, that 60,000 people have been evacuated from northern Israel for months because of daily Hezbollah attacks. Doucet’s piece effectively blamed Israel for Iran’s retaliation…. & bizarrely every picture was of Gaza and not one relating to Israel’s trauma. Read and learn Ms Doucet & please never claim to be impartial.
@AviMayer @MkayUokay the attack was not on a diplomatic embassy or mission, rather it was the command center of an active terrorist group, planning and executing immediate attacks against a neighbouring state it was a fair hit
@AviMayer @RachelRileyRR Israel has been put in check
@AviMayer @KassyDillon This is what Israel started. Deal with it.