Israel Plans to Hit ‘Strategic Target’ in Iran

A man takes a picture of a car that was damaged in the area where a projectile landed after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias
A man takes a picture of a car that was damaged in the area where a projectile landed after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias
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Israel Plans to Hit ‘Strategic Target’ in Iran

A man takes a picture of a car that was damaged in the area where a projectile landed after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias
A man takes a picture of a car that was damaged in the area where a projectile landed after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 2, 2024. REUTERS/Nir Elias

The Israeli government decided it will respond to the Iranian missile attack by hitting a strategic target deep in the Iranian territories, reports have said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will finalize targets, timing and means for the response to Iran's missile attack after coordinating with their US-led allies, the reports said on Wednesday.

The decision that there will be an Israeli military response to the Iranian attack came following two lengthy sessions of the war cabinet held on Wednesday after Tel Aviv confirmed that Iran fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel.

The Iranian attack came shortly after a new opinion poll showed that Netanyahu’s popularity, which was battered after the Hamas attacks on October 7, has been boosted by his country’s military successes against Lebanon and Iran.

Therefore, Israel believes it is necessary to strongly respond on both fronts, even though the Iranian missiles did not kill any Israeli.

Two Conflicting Stories

On Tuesday, Iran was keen to inform Israel, via Washington, of its anticipated attack, similar to Tehran’s response on April 14 to the Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus, where seven were killed, including two top commanders.

The Israeli army’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, appeared two hours before the Iranian attack on Israel and asked the public to follow the Home Front Command guidelines, warning that a fire from Iran could be wide in scope.

Iran then primarily targeted military sites, claiming that 90% of the missiles it launched against Israel hit their targets successfully.

However, Israel denied this claim and said only few missiles landed while the majority was intercepted.

In fact, the majority of missiles were intercepted by Israel. But some ballistic missiles did manage to strike, damaging the Nevatim air base in southern Israel, a military compound north Tel Aviv and near the Ben Gurion International Airport in the city of Lod.

Following the ballistic attack, Iran tried to conclude a public deal with Israel, indirectly announcing that the attack was its final response to the killings of (Hamas chief) Ismail Haniyeh, (Hezbollah leader) Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforushan.

Iran indirectly signaled that it would not object to Israel's escalation in Lebanon and Syria, the ongoing military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, and any military attack against the Houthis in Yemen and Iranian proxies in Iraq.

But Israel's political and military leaderships consider that Iran had crossed the red lines by firing missiles towards Israel, and therefore, they demand a harsh deterrent response.

Iranian nuclear strike

The US administration clearly senses that Netanyahu is close to involving Washington in a war against Iran.

Netanyahu is convinced that the Iranian leadership has decided to develop a nuclear weapon. Therefore, the Israeli PM believes that the time has come to realize his ambitions and attack Iran’s nuclear sites.

Netanyahu knows that Israel lacks the capabilities to stage such an attack on Iran. Instead, he plans to drag the US into a showdown with Iran, and risks a broader war.

But the US administration is convinced that a military solution does not guarantee the destruction of Iran's nuclear program and that diplomatic channels are still an option.

The US had already resumed talks with Tehran on its nuclear program and says there could be a positive trend in this regard.

The administration in Washington believes Netanyahu is seeking to sabotage the US-Iran talks and is using the war on Gaza and Lebanon to push the American administration to end any political solution and instead, launch decisive strikes against Tehran.

Therefore, the US is discussing with Israel the response to the Iranian attack, but in a measured way.

Israeli observers point out that both sides are considering practical plans, in which the Americans aim to achieve some of the Israeli objectives but in a way that allows Iran adopt its former strategy of “patience” and therefore, not feel obliged to respond.



South Korean Police Prepare for ‘Worst-Case Scenarios’ Ahead of Yoon Impeachment Ruling 

South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol gets out of the Presidential Security Service vehicle as he arrives in front his official residence after being released from detention, in Seoul, South Korea, 08 March 2025. (Yonhap/EPA)
South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol gets out of the Presidential Security Service vehicle as he arrives in front his official residence after being released from detention, in Seoul, South Korea, 08 March 2025. (Yonhap/EPA)
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South Korean Police Prepare for ‘Worst-Case Scenarios’ Ahead of Yoon Impeachment Ruling 

South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol gets out of the Presidential Security Service vehicle as he arrives in front his official residence after being released from detention, in Seoul, South Korea, 08 March 2025. (Yonhap/EPA)
South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol gets out of the Presidential Security Service vehicle as he arrives in front his official residence after being released from detention, in Seoul, South Korea, 08 March 2025. (Yonhap/EPA)

Police will be out in force, and subway stations and at least one school will be closed over safety concerns when South Korea's Constitutional Court rules whether to oust or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yoon's political fate hangs in the balance after his short-lived martial law decree on December 3 led to his impeachment and separate criminal charges of insurrection.

The impeachment ruling is expected to come as soon as this week, and both supporters and opponents of Yoon are expected to turn out in large numbers, with recent protests gathering tens of thousands.

"We are setting up plans considering the worst-case scenarios," Lee Ho-young, Acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, told reporters.

Police officers can use pepper spray or batons in case of violence similar to what happened during a rampage by Yoon supporters on a court building in January, Lee added.

On the day of the ruling, a subway station near the Constitutional Court will be closed, and trains might not stop at other subway stations where large rallies are expected, the Seoul Metro said.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education sent out letters in late February advising six schools near the court to take safety measures, including closing down on the ruling day, Kim Eun-mi, an official at the education office, told Reuters.

One school decided to close for the day, Kim said.

During the court hearings so far, rings of police officers and vehicles have surrounded gatherings of thousands of Yoon supporters.

"Security has to be tighter than ever, as you can imagine how precarious this situation can get," a police official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. "We have to be on alert at the highest level, like when the Constitutional Court handed down the ruling on President Park Geun-hye."

Park was impeached over corruption allegations and removed from office by the court in March 2017. At least three people died and dozens were hurt during demonstrations after that ruling.

Police also may shut down gas stations near the court for the day of Yoon's impeachment ruling, the official said.

On Sunday, a day after Yoon returned home, thousands of Yoon supporters gathered around the residence to protest the impeachment, surrounded by beefed-up police security.

Over the weekend, police parked buses along main roads and set up some checkpoints around his residence to limit access.