(Mail on Sunday-UK) Andrew Neil - Within hours of Iran's mass missile and drone attack on Israel on Saturday night, the consensus of the global commentariat was that Israel should refrain from retaliation. It is quite remarkable advice for a country which has just been the target of more than 150 Iranian drones armed with explosives, 30 cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles. If so many weapons of destruction had rained down on Britain, would we be agreeing that it would probably be best for all concerned if we just sat on our hands? There would be an overwhelming national demand for a robust response to show we cannot be attacked with impunity - and that those who think they can should pay a terrible price. We'd expect our allies to stand alongside us, offering every possible assistance. It's clear that Iran, by sending so many drones and missiles at once, hoped to overwhelm Israel's defenses. That it failed should not be a factor in determining Israel's response. You do not launch 300 missiles and drones on another country unless you're aiming to cause a lot of death and destruction. Iran has attacked Israel directly from its own territory. That is reason enough why Israel can hardly look the other way. The command center that Israel hit in Damascus was a major base for the IRGC's Quds Force, which arms, trains and finances Iran's proxy militias across the region, including Hamas and Hizbullah, which have brought so much misery to Israel. The general killed was a pivotal link with the proxies. So it was a legitimate target. Israel has every right to respond to the mass attack. There is too much loose talk about it leading to World War III if it does. This is designed to intimidate Israel into doing nothing.
2024-04-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive