Iran says it has the right to defend itself after an Israeli attack kills soldiers

Jiyar Gol
Persian BBC correspondent

Before today’s attack, Israeli media reported that Israel, through a third party, had sent a message to Iran calling on the country not to retaliate.

Iran’s October 1 attacks on Israel and Israel’s attacks on Iran today suggest that neither country is seeking full-scale war, while both countries are taking steps to minimize casualties. For example, Iranian oil and nuclear facilities were deliberately avoided in the attacks.

Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari claimed the targets included missile production sites, surface-to-air missile sites and air defense systems, adding that “Israel now has greater air maneuverability over Iran.” The focus seems to be more on demonstrating military reach than on inflicting serious damage.

Iranian state media claims that Israel is exaggerating the scale of current attacks on sensitive locations. In April, the Iranian government denied an attack on Iranian air defenses near Isfahan, but last week General Jafari, former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, admitted it had taken place, although he minimized its impact.

In the coming days, many in Israel and Iran will be holding their breath to see whether Iran will retaliate – whether Iran will refrain from responding, as it did after the Isfahan incident, or choose a different course of action.