Israel Versus Iran — What All-Out War Could Look Like
An Iranian-made Zolfaghar missile on display at Azadi Square during a rally to mark the 45th anniversary of the victory of Iran's 1979 Revolution in western Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 11.
Photographer: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesIran’s massive missile and drone attack on Israel, which began in the late hours of April 13, pushed the conflict between the two countries into a potentially explosive new phase. For decades, Israel and Iran have fought a shadow war, attacking each other mostly quietly and in Iran’s case often by proxy. That changed with Iran’s retaliatory response to an April 1 attack it blamed on Israel in which several Iranian officers were killed in Syria. Israel’s response to the missile and drone assault could determine whether the next stage is all-out war.
Israel’s forces have a vast technological edge over Iran’s. That’s partly down to military and financial support from the US, which has long sought to ensure Israel’s advantage as part of its commitment to the Jewish state’s security. For example, Israel is the only state in the Middle East so far that’s bought Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter jet — the costliest weapons system ever.