Israel strikes back at Iran's attempt to shape a new reality in the Middle East - editorial

Israel launched airstrikes against targets in western and central Iran early Monday, defying public U.S. appeals to absorb an earlier Iranian missile attack. The Israeli Air Force struck selected targets, refraining from a full-scale response, in a move that signals Jerusalem's unwillingness to accept a new regional dynamic.

The editorial argues that Iran's direct missile attack on Israel, following earlier strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, represented an attempt to establish a dangerous new reality in the Middle East. This new equation, the piece suggests, would allow Iran to defend its proxies like Hezbollah by attacking Israel directly, while Jerusalem would be expected to absorb such assaults quietly under U.S. pressure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is credited with taking necessary steps to counter this emerging reality. The article contends that absorbing the Iranian missile attack without retaliation would have set a precedent where Hezbollah could violate ceasefires, attack Israel, and Iran could then respond directly, with Israel expected to stand down. Such conditions are deemed untenable for any nation.

The decision to strike back also comes as Israel continues to manage conflicts on multiple fronts, including ongoing fighting and reserve duty stretching families and businesses. The Houthis also joined the fray on Monday, further complicating the security situation. The editorial emphasizes that Israel is still dealing with the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and faces an exhausted population after nearly three years of instability.