In a speech on TV late Saturday, former U.S. President Donald Trump said that American and Israeli forces had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s main nuclear enrichment sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strikes are a big step up in Washington’s position on Iran, and they have caused frantic responses from throughout the world.
Details of the US military operation
President Trump announced that the strikes used B-2 stealth bombers with massive bunker-buster bombs on the heavily defended Fordow plant. Tomahawk cruise missiles were also fired at Natanz and Isfahan. He called the mission a “spectacular military success” and told Iran, “Make peace or face tragedy.”
He stressed that U.S. forces completely destroyed the facilities and said that no other military in the world could have done what happened just a little while ago.
Tehran’s Reaction and Tension in the Region
Iran admitted to the assaults but said the damage was not too bad. Officials said that nuclear materials were taken away ahead of time and that there was no leaking of radioactive material. A high-ranking ambassador called the strikes a “grave violation” of international law and said they would respond in ways that were not made public.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fired more than 40 missiles at Israeli sites in response. Reports say that there were injuries and damage to buildings in Israel, but the situation is still unstable. Refuge rockets caused Israel to close its airspace for short periods of time.
Concern from around the world
World leaders were worried about the strikesUN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a warning of escalation/ramping up of the situation, and a call for calm. Mayors of cities in Europe tweeted similar sentiments and many political leaders in the U.S. – of both parties – expressed concern as to whether the action had congressional authorization.
Oil prices seemed to bounce once the attacks began, as fears may have been of Iran possibly blocking shipments in the Strait of Hormuz. Geopolitical risk in the region also led commodities being depreciated in the crypto currency markets.
What Happens Next
The U.S. plans to offer lengthy briefings at the Pentagon, headed by military leaders, to explain the operation and its strategic purpose. Trump said that if Iran doesn’t want peace, there are “many targets left.”
Iran has said it will “defend itself” by using whatever means necessary, including military or cyber attacks. Experts say that this event could signal the start of a long period of instability in the region’s affairs.
reuters.com
Last Thought
In reality, the airstrikes represent a drastic multilateral U.S. foreign policy shift from a response of diplomatic containment to one of complete military response. Some analysts are seeing the operation as a fundamentally game changing moment for the region while others are seeing it as nothing burger. Regardless, this was not without significant consequences for state & international law, international security, and escalation of command and accept in nuclear scenarios. The world is being closely monitored for nothing adverse or hostile, and only time and the deteriorating and worsened conditions in the Middle East will be able to tell whether the unbarbed question everyone seemed to be asking is; Are we now safer or more unsafe? For now been generally the world is taking note of Trump’s suggestion to de-escalate and is generally hoping, if not implicitly forcing that he meant peace and not something bereft.
