Israel is as if it were by now at war and has begun to hit military targets of the regime but also of "Iranians". It lost one of its jets in the course of the most serious escalation of tensions that has involved the three countries in years. An Israeli pilot was seriously injured. The ongoing tension is the most serious ever between Israel and Iran since 2011 and the beginning of the war in Syria. It is also the first time in nearly 30 years that Israel has lost an F-16 in combat. The hostilities come against the backdrop of growing tensions that coincide with the course taken by the Syrian conflict in favor of the regime of President Bashar al Assad, an enemy of Israel militarily supported by Russia, but also by two other opponents of the Jewish state, Iran and the Lebanese of Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was not looking for an escalation, but warned that he would not allow Iran's military "anchor" on its doorstep in Syria. Washington, Israel's historic ally, said it "strongly supports Israel's sovereign right to defend itself," with the State Department also denouncing "Iran's harmful activities in the region." Moscow, an ally of the regime in Damascus, expressed its "deep concern", but judged "unacceptable" the endangering of Russian soldiers on the ground. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "closely following the alarming military escalation in Syria and the dangerous expansion of the conflict beyond its borders," said his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. Guterres launches an "appeal to everyone to work for an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence and to show restraint," the spokesperson added in a statement.
What happens in Iran?
The Iranians demonstrate in different cities of the country to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. The authorities and the media have invited the population to participate in the gatherings to demonstrate the unity of the country in the face of recent US threats, and tensions in the region, particularly in Syria and Yemen, on which Tehran and Washington are accused of each other to interfere. Demonstrators shouted anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, some brought a symbolic coffin of Israel. In Tehran, in the Enghelab Avenue, a model of the ballistic missile built by the aerospace forces of the Revolutionary Guard Corps was shown, which has a range of 2000 kilometers. Models of other Iranian weapons, such as ships and submarines, have also been shown in the parades on Piazza Azadi where President Hassan Rohani's speech is awaited. Some extremist demonstrators also ask to punish the protesters who took to the streets in recent months in different cities against the carovita, the economic and social problems of the country and against the system.