On April 1, Israel launched an attack on what Iran claims is the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. The attack left two Iranian generals dead and Iran vowed revenge. It took action on Saturday night, sending hundreds of drones and rockets into Israel. This is the first time Iran has attacked Israeli territory.
The Guardian's senior foreign correspondent, Emma Graham Harrison, was in Jerusalem. She explained why the situation could spiral out of control, even though Israel emerged surprisingly unscathed, with only one girl seriously injured. The attack is a terrifying escalation in the hostile relationship between the two countries, which have fought “shadow wars” through proxies in countries such as Syria and Iraq.
The attack rallied Israel's allies, who had been increasingly critical of the Gaza war, to support. But they also call for restraint to prevent further escalation that could tip the entire region into war. Will Israel heed their warnings?
Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters
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