It wasn’t a question of if, but always a matter of when Israel would strike back at Iran.

Early Saturday morning, Israel carried out air strikes on Iran – as promised. In what has been reported to be the largest air attack on Iran in history, Israel hit military targets in response to the nation’s 180-ballistic missile attack on October 1. Israel has been under constant siege from Iran’s proxies since the heinous Hamas terrorist raid one year ago, during which 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians were murdered.

Israel Sent Three Waves of Attackers Against Iran

Reports from Israeli officials explain the operations of the Israel Defense Force (IDF) amounted to three waves of strikes against Iran, designed to deter Iranian military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces from any further attacks on Israel. During the air strikes, the IDF posted on X:

“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now, the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran. The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.”

In a report that gave some perspective on the size of the attacking force, “Local Israeli news outlet Channel 12 reported that in a direct attack on Iran, Israel sent 140 Air Force planes to the skies for the assault that has reportedly targeted military facilities containing missile exports, drones, ballistic missile transmitters, and Iran’s air defense systems,” Fox News reported. “The local outlet further reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters in Tehran was hit by strikes.” Fox News said it was not able to verify the report that the IRGC headquarters had been hit.

It should be crystal clear by now that Iran is helpless to prevent Israel from flying the more than 1,000 miles necessary to target any military facility it chooses. “Iranians reported hearing sounds of explosions in Isfahan, Mashhad, and Kurdistan Province. Explosion sounds in Tehran have ended, but a lingering anxiety remains, several residents said,” according to a report from The New York Times. “Official Iranian media coverage of Israel’s attack has been surprisingly low-key in what appears to be a coordinated effort to downplay what’s happening: calling the attacks insignificant, remaining vague about the sites that have been hit, and reporting that Tehran has started its Saturday morning at a normal pace,” the NYT said.

Tehran’s nonchalance may indicate that Israel’s intention to deter further assaults is effective. By downplaying Israel’s air attack, Iranian leadership may be trying to head off a call by the more aggressive mullahs for an immediate response. Reports from Tehran are that Iran did close its airspace for several hours during and after the air attack. Israel is iterating the message of real deterrence: The IDF has the capability, the motivation, and the will to defend the Israeli people.

US Provides Advanced Anti-Missile System

In anticipation of the attack on Iran and possible retaliation, the US sent the very capable Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) advanced anti-missile system along with 100 US soldiers to operate the system. THAAD missiles can reach out 120 miles and intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes approaching 100 miles. The system will complement and enhance the current Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 3 integrated air defense systems.

“IRGC Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami warned Israel against attacking Tehran in retaliation for the October 1 ballistic missile barrage, saying that even the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system would fail to secure Isreal’s safety and victory in the conflict,” The New York Post explained. Apparently, the IDF was not cowed by the IRGC warnings.

Statements from the White House indicate that Israel did give the US advanced notice of the strike. “Two US defense officials told Fox News Friday night that the US was notified in advance of Israel’s plan to strike Iran early Saturday morning local time in retaliation to Iran’s Oct. 1 attack,” Fox News reported. The Biden-Harris administration had cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the IDF hitting nuclear or oil production sites.

Early reports following the operation indicate those recommendations were followed. However, as one commentator observed, this strike on Iran should be seen by the Iranian theocratic leadership as the penultimate response to Iranian aggression against Israel. It is the next to last that would ever be necessary.

The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.