Iran is bracing for an Israeli response to last week's second major ballistic missile attack, unsure if it will strike at any time.
On Sunday, the regime's theocratic leader Ayatollah Khamenei awarded a medal to General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the aerospace commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which the United States considers a terrorist group. He was responsible for firing 200 missiles into Israel last week, but there was little actual damage.
At the same time, the commander of CENTCOM, US General Michael Kurilla, met with his Israeli compatriots ahead of what many believe will be a coordinated attack between the allies. Iran has reportedly closed its western airspace to civilian aircraft for several days, anticipating possible air attacks from Israel in the West.
President Joe Biden has made a number of puzzling statements, including telling Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, then threatening and then discouraging attacks on Iranian oil and gas facilities. Iranian oil tankers have reportedly distanced themselves from the facility in anticipation of a possible attack by Israel.
Either way, Israel could attack Iran's nuclear facilities and oil infrastructure. In any case, it is likely to also target Iranian missile launch facilities, which pose a clear threat to Israel.
In the first attack on Iran in April, Israel intercepted all but two of the 300 projectiles, but in the second, at least 23 of the 181 missiles (19 missed) were intercepted. It landed in Israel. Iran has used the attacks to hone its capabilities, and future attacks could use weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, which Iran is known to be developing.
Israel could also attack Iranian government facilities. Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu posted a message to Iranians supporting their political aspirations against the Ayatollah's rule. The attack may be aimed at destabilizing the regime.
Israel may also have some surprises in store. Israeli intelligence has a significant presence in Iran and could launch internal sabotage attacks. I would also not be surprised if there was an Israeli attack from a completely different direction, perhaps from a submarine or even from an airstrip that may have been secretly constructed to the north or east.
Despite Iran's public bravado, Iranians are reportedly lining up at gas stations to refuel before the attack.
In addition, Esmail Khani replaced Qasem Soleimani as leader of the Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force in 2020 after Soleimani was killed in an airstrike ordered by then-President Donald Trump. His whereabouts have been unknown since last week. Qaani was visiting remaining Hezbollah leaders in Beirut, several of whom are missing since an Israeli airstrike targeting Hassan Nasrallah's likely successor, Hashim Safi al-Din. . His death is considered probable but has not yet been confirmed.
Iran is believed to have little ability to resist an Israeli attack. In April, Israel easily penetrated Iran's air defenses in a perfunctory response to its first ballistic missile attack. (President Biden has pressed Israel not to respond more dramatically.) Iran has threatened to attack Israel in response. Whatever the target, Israel is likely to attack in a way that does not give Iran an opportunity to counterattack.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
