--- title: "Israel Strikes Back (Updated)" date: "2024-04-18" modified: "2024-04-19" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/israel-strikes-back" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Iran" - "Israel" - "Middle East" - "News & Features" --- # Israel Strikes Back (Updated) ![A photo of a map of Iraq and Iran.]() *wsfurlan via Getty Images* Details are very thin and fleeting at the moment, but it seems clear that Israel has [launched its counterstrike against Iranian interests]() in response to the [large-scale attack directly on Israeli territory]() that occurred over the weekend. The news began developing around 3:00 AM local time in Israel that explosions occurred in Iraq and in towns in Iran where well-known nuclear program-related facilities are located. There was also talk on social media of jets being heard flying very low in Eastern Syria and Iranian-related targets struck in Iraq, as well. https://twitter.com/0ye_hoye_mickey/status/1781131918014312855 https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1781131355427881162 https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1781142161171333537 The extent of Israel's reprisal campaign is unknown at this time. This could be a 'one and done' operation or it could be an extended campaign. Iran has made various ominous statements that it would respond in full force if Israel were to respond in kind to Tehran's own revenge strikes. The United States has told Israel it would not take part in a reprisal operation after air defenses, [including U.S. ]()and other allied assets, [almost totally rebuffed]() Iran's drone, ballistic, and cruise missile barrage over the weekend. This would limit the magnitude and frequency of Israel's operation, but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been planning for this exact type of contingency for many years. The current spike in hostilities, which are unprecedented, began when Israel [bombed an annex of the Iranian consulate]() in Damascus, Syria, earlier in the month, killing three top IRGC commanders. The escalation ladder at this point is the highest we have seen in the region. We will be updating this post with any new information that becomes available. ***UPDATE: 10:15 PM EST—*** A stream of videos, which remain unconfirmed are coming out of Iran of attacks near Iranian nuclear sites: https://twitter.com/JasonMBrodsky/status/1781140879584944390 https://twitter.com/JasonMBrodsky/status/1781133002304594308 https://twitter.com/0ye_hoye_mickey/status/1781131918014312855 *ABC* is reporting direct strikes inside Iran. https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1781146432969298121 Iran's state media is reporting it has activated air defenses. https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1781146716357673167 First reporting on potential targets beyond the proximity of nuclear development sites: https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1781140823284801699 Going after the Iranian Air Force would fit with Iran's only known target during its barrage on Israel, the IAF's Nevatim Air Base. Obviously this is very preliminary and from Iran directly, so take everything as a possibility at this point. *CBS* is now reporting Israeli missiles have hit Iran. https://twitter.com/margbrennan/status/1781147792573890602 Iran has cancelled flights into and out of Tehran: https://twitter.com/phildstewart/status/1781147237579358311 Iranian media saying no explosions occurred in Isfahan and that Iranian air defenses intercepted three threats: https://twitter.com/AlMayadeenLive/status/1781149259930255699 https://twitter.com/AlMayadeenLive/status/1781150001827045853 https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1781150692591485220 *Bloomberg reports that Israeli officials notified the U.S. of their impending operation:* https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1781149557306401272 Reuters reports that Iranian media says air defenses were activated against what was possibly a drone: https://twitter.com/phildstewart/status/1781152372640600534 BBC now also reporting that U.S. officials confirm an Israeli missile hit Iran: https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/1781152574562787427 Iran is saying they intercepted drones and that nothing hit the ground: https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1781153385816740156 ***UPDATE: 11PM EST—*** *Fox* is [reporting]() that sources tell them the strike was "limited." *CNN* is says their sources confirmed the attack and that Israel agreed not to go after nuclear targets: https://twitter.com/MarquardtA/status/1781154790614958388 Iran says nuclear facilities are untouched. https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1781155650825044046 The Israeli government is not commenting at this time. This is pretty standard for any kinetic actions they take. https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1781156435113689339 *NBC* also reports the U.S. was notified ahead of time of the strike and was not involved in the operation: https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1781158852421206496 This may have been a one and done. Hopefully calm going forward, but stimulating Iran's most critical air defenses and getting their up-to-date electronic order of battle prior to something larger is a very real tactic, especially using vulnerable decoys. I think the likelihood is that this is not the case, but it still must be considered. Remember, Israel is the absolute king of this exact tactic set and wrote the book on it using drones. They have systems specifically designed for this. [Here is a full backgrounder from 2017]() I believe (the date is wrong). Decoys used to stimulate air defenses come in many flavors beyond light drones, including small air-launched cruise missiles that lack warheads and carry radar reflectors and can also feature EW packages. Intelligence garnered can be used for mission planning of course and to increase the survival of assets via SEAD/DEAD, avoidance, and EW, but it can also influence what comes next overall and the risk involved with perusing various target sets with various capabilities. ***UPDATE: 11:50 PM EST—*** More reports that Isfahan Air Base, a key base for Iran's small Tomcat fleet, colocated with the civilian airport, was the epicenter of the action: https://twitter.com/lrozen/status/1781168102438232289 Jennifer Griffin reporting that the strike was designed to be limited and indirect in nature. https://twitter.com/JenGriffinFNC/status/1781165223589601517 https://twitter.com/IranDefense/status/1781150948846362794 Iranian officials are downplaying the incident, calling it a failed strike: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1781171615721492572 https://twitter.com/TreyYingst/status/1781174448344662168 https://twitter.com/ShaykhSulaiman/status/1781172804055957902 *Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()