After Iran attack, Israel ponders its options
- Israel has a ‘large tool box,’ including drones and guided missiles
- It can carry out precision attacks like the one on Iran’s embassy in Syria
- No final decision on how to proceed after Sunday war cabinet meetings
(NewsNation) — Israel has a wide range of options for responding to Sunday’s drone and missile attack by Iran. But the big question for the moment is: how large should the response be?
Should it be “proportional” to the largely failed drone and missile attack of Sunday? Should Israel try to assassinate some of Iran’s leaders? Or should it go big and attack Iran’s nuclear facilities?
Israel has long demonstrated its ability to carry out precision strategic strikes, such as the killing of two Iranian generals inside a building that Iran claims was part of its embassy in Damascus, Syria. Israel says it was a military venue masquerading as a diplomatic post.
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton says, after Sunday, Iran looks weak, “and a way to pin that down is for Israel to go after Iran’s nuclear weapons program – which I think it can destroy or disable.”
Iran has seven facilities dedicated to its nuclear program, ranging from research, production and nuclear fuel enrichment.
There is another important question for Israel to ponder, according to retired U.S. Air Force Major Glenn Ignazio.
“How do you strike back without inflaming other nations? That’s going to be a big, key point,” he said while adding he doesn’t expect a quick retaliation.
After meeting Sunday, Israel’s war cabinet has reportedly not decided on how to respond. Israeli officials said the war cabinet favors a retaliation against Iran, but is divided over the timing and scale.