All eyes on Israel: Will there be a response to Iran's missile attack?

Report by Ahmad Abdallah, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian

As the Jewish New Year holiday wraps up at midnight on Friday-Saturday, all eyes are on Israel to see if it will respond to the recent Iranian ballistic missile attack. Speculation is mounting about whether a counterstrike will occur in the coming hours.

The Iranian missile attack went unanswered, but Israeli and American reports indicate that preparations for both offensive and defensive responses are underway.

Israeli military sources indicate that the response this time will be unprecedented, targeting Iran directly. Several scenarios are possible:

The possible operation might target Iranian nuclear facilities, such as the Natanz and Fordow sites, to halt the uranium enrichment program.

Israel may also resort to striking oil facilities and infrastructure, including oil sites and power stations.

One other scenario can include hitting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by targeting its missile bases and air defenses.

Other scenarios include assassinating military leaders through direct strikes on prominent figures linked to the nuclear and missile programs, conducting cyberattacks aimed at disabling Iranian defense systems and vital facilities, or launching coordinated multi-front strikes in Iran, Lebanon, and Syria to hinder any potential responses.

These scenarios aim to weaken Iran militarily and economically and could lead to regional escalation, each with its repercussions.

The question remains: will Iran respond to the Israeli retaliation? 

The answer depends on the type, quantity, and scale of the missiles fired by Iran and Israel's and its allies' capacity to counter them if a significant confrontation breaks out.