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Opinion: How a regional defence pact could deal the final blow to Israel's violent expansionism
The brief exchange of fire between https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/iran" target="_blank">Iran and https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank">Israel was a truer statement of the balance of power that now exists between these two countries than the many spurious claims by https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us" target="_blank">US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about having “smashed”, “destroyed” or “obliterated” the armed forces of the Islamic Republic.
In firing up to https://www.iranintl.com/en/202606088300" target="_blank">30 missiles towards Israel in retaliation against its renewed bombing of Dahiyeh, a southern suburb of Beirut, Iran broke the model that Israel had imposed on the two other ceasefires in https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/lebanon" target="_blank">Lebanon and Gaza: namely that you cease, and we keep on firing.
Furthermore, it showed that it would target northern Israel to protect a third country, Lebanon, which is also something of a first.
In announcing that it would halt fire, https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/israel-iran-trade-strikes-threatening-drag-region-back-133672424" target="_blank">Iran’s military command said that if Israel resumed its attacks anywhere, including southern Lebanon, “much more severe and crushing measures than before will follow”.
Read more: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/how-regional-defence-pact-could-deal-final-blow-israels-violent-expansionism">How a regional defence pact could deal the final blow to Israel's violent expansionism
