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| Fired missiles fly to the target. Missiles at the sky at sunset with Iran flag. Missile defense, a system of salvo fire. © Hamara / shutterstock.com |
Despite deep animosity over
Israel’s decades-long mistreatment of Palestinians, Iran has shown considerable
restraint. Nevertheless, Israel lashed out, killing three senior Iranian
officers and six other Iranians in an illegal air strike in Damascus. Iran’s
reply was a responsible and moderated strike on Israel that killed no one. Yet
it cost Israel and its allies billions and gained Iran a valuable advantage.
Article
154 of its constitution requires Iran to support oppressed peoples.
Palestinians continue to endure significant oppression. Thus, Iran stands with
the Palestinian people and works to promote their liberation. (Encouragingly,
an increasing number of Americans are also aligning themselves with the plight
of the oppressed Palestinians.) Iran has thus supported Hamas,
earning the ire of this Palestinian group’s arch-foe, the US-backed Israel.
Iran’s leadership demonstrates
sagacity rather than acting capriciously. It has no desire to provoke an
unnecessary war with Israel. However, when Israel assassinated
senior Iranian officials in Damascus via an airstrike on April 1, 2024, Iran
needed to respond. On April 14, Iran responded
with a drone and rocket attack that targeted Israeli territory but caused no
deaths.
In the aftermath of Iran’s
attack, the US has made efforts to rein in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and prevent escalation. However, this endeavor has proven to be
challenging. Netanyahu believes that the US Congress
would compel the US to support Israel in a potential conflict with Iran.
Presently, he finds himself surrounded by fellow hardline extremists who, like
him, fail to recognize the shifting attitudes of the American populace towards
Israel. Notably, among the younger generation of Americans, only 14% express
sympathy towards Israel, a stark decline from 64% in 2023. These Americans are
unwilling to commit to armed conflict or sacrifice their lives for Israel.
Once again, the US intervened to
support Netanyahu, entreating Iran to permit a symbolic Israeli strike. Iran,
of course, refused, but on April 19, Israel carried out an air strike in Iran’s
Esfahan province. There were no
casualties. For the moment, this seems to be the end of the exchange.
Netanyahu is cognizant that his
political career is effectively over
after the Israel–Hamas war, and thus his mandate as well, ends. He faces prosecution
for personal corruption and mismanagement, particularly concerning dealings
with Hamas. He thus has a personal incentive to prolong the war, perhaps
banking on US intervention to safeguard Israel.
Should Israel or the US mount
another offensive resulting in casualties or significant damage, hell would
break loose in the Middle East. Such a war could destroy US influence in the
region and even imperil the very existence of Israel.
A century of struggle and
suffering in Palestine
Let’s back up a bit and consider
why Gaza is such a sensitive topic for Iran.
In the early 20th century, Jews fled
persecution in Christendom and migrated to Palestine. Palestinians initially
welcomed them, providing sanctuary. Palestinian hospitality encouraged
Zionist-minded Jews to settle in Palestine. By 1930, tensions escalated as the
newcomers perpetrated violence against Palestinians. This violence peaked
between 1947 and 1948, resulting in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians known
as the Nakba.
Since then, Israel, with the
support of the US-led West, has continued to marginalize Palestinians and push
them into smaller
and smaller plots of land. Israel split Palestine into two territories: the
larger West Bank in the east, and the tiny Gaza Strip, only 365 square
kilometers, to the south. After Palestinians voted for Hamas in 2006, the
militant group assumed control of the Gaza Strip. Israel (and Egypt) responded
by blockading the territory, creating what is frequently called an open-air
prison, with two million people crammed into an area the size of the US
Virgin Islands (home to 87,000 people).
Since the outbreak of the
present Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, Israel has not only killed over 34,000
people in its land and air assault on the Gaza Strip but intensified
its blockade, at times even restricting the inflow of drinking water, and put
the territory’s population on the brink of starvation.
Founded in a revolution against
an oppressive secular government backed by Western powers, the Islamic Republic
of Iran sees itself as the protector of the Islamic world against oppression
and imperialism. For Iranians, Palestine is the prime case of a suffering
Muslim people. So, naturally, whatever happens in Gaza reverberates in Iran.
Iran’s commitment to standing
with the oppressed finds its origins in the nation’s majority Shia Islamic
faith. Wherever Shia Muslims reside, they draw inspiration from Imam
Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet of Islam, who sacrificed his life and
those of his loved ones in defense of justice. “In the face of oppression,”
Imam Hussein declared,
“I choose to stand with courage and uphold the banner of justice.” Shias align
themselves with the oppressed and advocate for justice. They do not
discriminate based on race, religion, ethnicity, or any other criteria.
Presently, Shias in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and various other nations unite
in solidarity with Palestinians, even though most Palestinians are Sunni
Muslims rather than Shia. What matters most for Iranians is solidarity with the
Muslim community and with oppressed peoples across the globe.
Israel’s actions have provoked
anger worldwide, even in the West. What is true in the rest of the world is
true in Iran tenfold. Iranians are deeply angry. Yet it is a testament to the
restraint and prudence of Iran’s leadership that it has so far not let this
righteous outrage tempt it into a war.
Iran’s strategic calculations
in the face of Israeli provocations
Although Iran rejects
aggression, Israel nearly drew it into war anyway by striking its officers. On
April 1, 2024, Israel breached Syrian and Iranian sovereignties by bombing the
Iranian consulate compound in Damascus, Syria, resulting in the death of 16
individuals. Among the casualties
were three senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds
Force — Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, General Hossein Aminollahi and
General Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi — and six other Revolutionary Guard members.
The US promptly announced
that it had nothing to do with Israel’s bombing of Iran’s consulate in Syria.
However, the US administration refrained
from condemning it. As usual, its media empire repeated
the US assertions by downplaying the Israeli assault on the consulate.
Incapable of independent thought, the US and its media still keep persistently echoing
Israel’s lies, propaganda and unverified rumors.
For years, Iran’s Supreme Leader
has exercised patience in response to Israel’s provocations, including sabotage
of its endeavors in Iran’s nuclear
and missile
programs as well as targeted killings of Iranian scientists
and military personnel. Following Israel’s bombing of Iran’s consulate in Syria
on April 1, military action was withheld initially, with Iran appealing to the
UN Security Council to denounce the violations.
After the UN failed
to condemn Israel, Iran’s Supreme Leader declared Iran’s intention to retaliate
against Israel, approximately ten days before the attacks. Demonstrating an
exemplary degree of responsibility, Iran issued a warning to Israel, the US,
the UK, France, and other supporters, prompting them to prepare for defense.
Approximately 72 hours before the attacks, Iran notified
both its regional neighbors and Western powers of its imminent intentions. This
deliberate choice allowed Israel and its allies time to prepare for defensive
measures. Symbolically, Iran sought to showcase its capabilities to its
adversaries while assessing their strengths and vulnerabilities.
On April 14, Iran executed its
attacks on Israel utilizing outdated, sluggish drones and missiles. The journey
spanned three to five hours before reaching their intended targets.
By international law and moral
standards, Iran’s response was appropriate. Unlike Israel, which follows the
Western model by indiscriminately targeting innocent men, women and children,
Iran’s objective from the outset was to minimize casualties. Notably, the
attacks resulted in no deaths and only one unintentional injury.
Through the operation, Iran
successfully achieved its objectives. The strikes seriously damaged at least
two Israeli bases, including the highly sensitive Nevatim Airbase,
previously utilized by Israel to target Iran’s consulate. Notably, Israel’s
purportedly top-tier defense infrastructure faltered during this operation.
While British, French and other Western forces participated, the US
conducted the bulk of the interceptions.
To Iranians, the attacks served
as significant experimental endeavors. Remarkably, the financial cost
to Iran amounted to less than $2 million, whereas its adversaries had to spend
$3 billion to counter the attack. Perhaps more importantly, the exercise
afforded Iran a deeper understanding of its adversaries’ capabilities.
On April 19, Israel launched
rockets toward the nuclear facilities in Natanz, Esfahan province, Iran.
Reports indicate
that Iran intercepted all incoming projectiles, with some debris landing in
Iraq. Iran has not retaliated.
The ever-pro-Israeli US press,
led by The
New York Times, sought to ignore or downplay Iran’s success and paint the
exchange as a mere distraction. Americans should exercise discernment and not
take such propaganda
at face value. Instead, they should seek out independent sources, such as Fair
Observer, for a more realistic perspective.
A call to reform US policy on
Israel
It is time for Americans to
shake off the passivity they have indulged in for too long. The US, after all,
is supposed to be a democracy.
Yet a significant majority, exceeding
60% of Americans, disapprove of Israel’s actions in Gaza, while Congress approves
$26 billion in more aid for Israel. To reclaim the nation’s integrity,
Americans must conscientiously vote out representatives who support such
allocations in future elections.
As an American committed to
safeguarding the nation’s long-term interests, I advocate for constructive
engagement with Palestinians to facilitate the cessation of Israeli
colonization and the restoration of the Palestinian state. This endeavor should
ensure equal rights for all Palestinian Christians, Jews and Muslims.
Additionally, individuals of Jewish descent without historical ties to
Palestine should be permitted to repatriate to their ancestral lands or other
countries, provided they have not been complicit in crimes against humanity.
True Christians and Jews must
actively follow their religious teachings by promoting brotherhood and peace.
They must not permit political and religious demagogues to encourage or engage
in atrocities such as those in Palestine in their names. Additionally, they
should acknowledge that Israel is no friend of the US, but rather an adversary,
one which has even fired
upon the US Navy with apparent impunity.
Under President Joe Biden — a
self-declared Zionist
— achieving a peaceful solution in Palestine appears unlikely. Nevertheless, it
remains certain that each individual will be held accountable
for the suffering they cause, whether directly or indirectly, upon others.
Before they are held accountable before God, let us hold them accountable at
the ballot box, and perhaps save their souls or, at least, our own.
BY MEHDI ALAVI
The article was
originally published by Fair Observer on May 3, 2024.
