Iran's letter to the UN is not only ridiculous, but an example of irony since Iran via Hezbollah violates UNSC Resolution 1701 for the last 10 months. Additionally, Iran provided zero evidence that it was Israel who definitely took out Haniyeh. Israel is not the only entity with motive and opportunity to do so. It was done within Iranian territory - not a jet from Israel to Iran that fired a missile. That would be even more humiliating for Iran and would suggest they're rather poor at tracking aircraft entering their own airspace to proceed to target unmolested. Never mind the advantageous terrain chosen to make that rather difficult to do. Top Gun is really good fiction!
It looks like much the same coalition as earlier this year will assist Israel in defending itself against Iranian and Hezbollah attacks.
The United States deployed 12 warships in the Middle East.
Jordan is preparing, in cooperation with the US and British military, to confront the drones and missiles expected to be launched from Iran towards Israel.
UK's Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin met with IDF Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevi in Tel Aviv today. UK Secretary of Defence, John Healy, was also in Tel Aviv.
France warns Hezbollah their response will trigger Israeli strikes on Lebanon's critical infrastructure. The French officially say, "France supports the stability, unity, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon." They will not want Hezbollah to risk all that for Lebanon.
As for the Biden Administration, he's a lame duck President. Besides, their policy of appeasement despite the constant attacks on Israel from Iran via Hezbollah has only led to escalation. They've sent Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas the wrong message: they just need to hold out and keep pushing, and they will get what they want. That's how Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas read the behaviour of the Biden Administration. That's escalation.
Especially in an election year when the Democrats are more concerned about how American voters might treat them at the ballot box in November.
US efforts to micromanage warfare never goes well.
Senior advisor at the FDD think-tank, Richard Goldberg pointed out: “Iran has been waging a multi-front regional war for more than 9 months. Pressuring Israel to accept every escalation by Iran’s terror axis as a new normal brought us to this moment.”
The West has been opting for very short term tactical moves which hurts any long term military strategy, i.e., makes achieving war aims even harder. It shows they don't really understand the Middle East conflict dynamic.
Whatever Iran, Hezbollah, Houthis as well as militants as Iranian proxies in Iraq and Syria do next....it'll mean more and more people will come to understand this isn't and never really was a war between Hamas & Israel.
It's a war between Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Iraqi & Syrian militants against Israel.
A war Israel faces on multiple fronts. That's why it's important they have allies too. But, just as crucially, those allies cannot keep trying to micromanage the war as this costs more lives in the long run.
Additionally, Western COIN military strategy is inappropriate for this war and we've seen it really doesn't work in the long run against the type of enemy Israel faces.