# Breaking, Iran launching strike against Israel (4/13/2024) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [April 13, 2024, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244 "2024-04-13T21:45:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/23 "2024-04-14T00:25:31Z")
It is now 3:30 am in Israel, the attack seems to be over. One person seriously wounded. Some unspecified “minor” damage. Most of the 200 incoming missiles and drones were destroyed before entering Israeli airspace. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/24 "2024-04-14T00:31:31Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > It’s a strange period because at this moment Israel has not yet been struck by anything yet That’s because the Israelis, British, Americans, and others are all in the area blasting drones and missiles out of the sky. > [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Not that I understand why, but attacking Country A directly from the territory of Country B is a bigger deal than using a proxy. Plausible deniability. Well, in Iran’s case, maybe just deniability. > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > It’s being suggested that Iran targeted less populous areas of Israel in order to both show strength _and_ retaliate for the attack in Damascus. Ooooh, so they were utterly ineffective as a show of _strength_. Got it. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/25 "2024-04-14T01:09:30Z")
IIW Nethanjahu, I’d go on national television, saying Israel is evaluating all options to retaliate, including a nuclear attack on Teheran (and the top 3 cities in Iran) in 7 days, urging the Iranians to evacuate those urbes immediately. Hell should break lose in Iran … then sit back and wait … ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/26 "2024-04-14T01:36:45Z")
Jordan enacts its own version of Remain In Mexico policy (by shooting down a number of inbound (to Israel) Iranian drones: > **[Jordan airforce shoots down Iranian drones flying over to Israel](https://news.yahoo.com/jordans-air-defence-ready-shoot-213037583.html)** > > AMMAN (Reuters) -Jordan's air force intercepted and shot down dozens of Iranian drones that violated its airspace and were heading to Israel, two regional security sources said. In neighbourhoods south of the capital Amman, 60 km (37 miles) from... ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/27 "2024-04-14T01:48:53Z")
You have to openly wonder if Iran purposely launched an attack that they knew would be mostly intercepted and negated by Israel, the U.S. and other neighboring countries (Iraq, Jordan). The Ayatollah presumably wants to flex before the general populace of Iran, but also doesn’t want to do something that’s going to have a real chance of getting completely out of hand. As much as the right wing media in the west wants to depict Iran as a complete loose cannon, there has always been a method to the madness. I guess only time will tell if they wrote a check they couldn’t cover this time. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/28 "2024-04-14T01:54:25Z")
They might be launching lesser drones/rockets in order to use up Israeli defense assets. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/29 "2024-04-14T01:54:55Z")
I would suppose that’s what the reporter meant when he relayed that … > [@DavidNRockies](#): > > It’s being suggested that Iran targeted less populous areas of Israel in order to both show strength _and_ retaliate for the attack in Damascus. It’s the gunslinger in the old Western that shoots off the other guy’s earlobe, just to demonstrate what he _could_ do if pressed. I don’t _ever_ claim to know what’s in the heads of these folks, but I presume that’s the point the reporter was trying to make in speculating about the nature of this Iranian attack on Israeli soil. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/30 "2024-04-14T01:59:57Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > It’s the gunslinger in the old Western that shoots off the other guy’s earlobe, just to demonstrate what he _could_ do if pressed. Except in this analogy, Iran didn’t display stunning accuracy while targetting an area that would cause little damage; rather, they had their attack neutralized en route. Methinks the Supreme Leader is painting a target around the smoking wreck of his attempted attack. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/31 "2024-04-14T02:05:00Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > I’d go on national television, saying Israel is evaluating all options to retaliate, including a nuclear attack on Teheran (and the top 3 cities in Iran) in 7 days, urging the Iranians to evacuate those urbes immediately. I certainly hope they don’t say any such thing. Nuclear sabre-rattling has the potential to go very very badly. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/32 "2024-04-14T02:14:24Z")
well the beauty is that you only have to say it - not actually do it … just ask putin for his playbook ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/33 "2024-04-14T02:16:39Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > well the beauty is that you only have to say it - not actually do it … And if Iran calls their bluff? Either they launch a nuclear first strike, instantly making them a pariah state and almost certainly inviting a Russian counterstrike that would quickly spiral into MAD, or they reveal themselves as all talk and invite even more attacks. It’s REALLY not a good idea to bluff if you have no viable Plan B. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/34 "2024-04-14T02:18:40Z")
I saw the Israeli Defense Force spokesman, in his first, short statement after the attack, said, “We will do everything we need, everything to defend the state of Israel.” Read whatever promise - or threat - you want into that. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/35 "2024-04-14T02:20:28Z")
what bluff? re-read my post… > [@Al128](#): > > I’d go on national television, saying **Israel is evaluating all options to retaliate, including** a nuclear attack on Teheran (and the top 3 cities in Iran) in 7 days, urging the Iranians to evacuate those urbes immediately. I did not say we will nuke you, I just said we evaluate nuking you … luckily, Joe talked me off the ledge … but now imagine the old beards in Iran with 10 million people having to leave their cities in chaos … now that is a lot of domestic problems for the ayatolas… and didn’t cost a penny for Israel. that would be months worth of caos and probably bring their gdp down 1-2 % - just by upsetting general life and supply chains ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/36 "2024-04-14T02:23:25Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > I did not say we will nuke you, I just said we evaluate nuking you … > [@Al128](#): > > but now imagine the old beards in Iran with 10 million people having to leave their cities in chaos Why would they have to “leave their cities in chaos” if there’s no threat? You can’t rules-lawyer your way through nuclear brinksmanship like it’s a D&D campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/37 "2024-04-14T02:32:03Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > well the beauty is that you only have to say it - not actually do it … > > just ask putin for his playbook We’re taking notes from the guy who backed himself into a deterrence blind corner by failing to develop a realistic estimate of his nation’s military prowess in the invasion he ordered? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/38 "2024-04-14T02:50:41Z")
My WAG: Iran is trying to showing it’s people that it’s a “force to be reckoned with,” while making a “big show” to the rest of the world (saber rattling). We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/39 "2024-04-14T03:10:44Z")
Saber rattling is the threat of force. Once you launch missiles it’s no longer saber rattling. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/40 "2024-04-14T03:24:23Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Saber rattling is the threat of force. Once you launch missiles it’s no longer saber rattling So much this. I am truly baffled by this attitude of, “well, Iran knew Israel has defenses, so this wasn’t a _real_ attack”. If my buddy is a black belt in Karate, that doesn’t mean I can pop out of bushes at random swinging a baseball bat at his head, then say “Well, I knew you’d block my clumsy blow with your superior skill, so no harm, no foul, right?”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/41 "2024-04-14T03:29:04Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > am truly baffled by this attitude of, “well, Iran knew Israel has defenses, so this wasn’t a _real_ attack”. > > If my buddy is a black belt in Karate, that doesn’t mean I can pop out of bushes at random swinging a baseball bat at his head, then say “Well, I knew you’d block my clumsy blow with your superior skill, so no harm, no foul, right?”. “Attempted murder? Now what is that?! Do they give out a Nobel Prize for Attempted Chemistry?” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244/42 "2024-04-14T06:17:19Z")
No matter how this thing shakes out, last night’s battle was one for the history books - the first time a mass drone and missile attack was launched against modern air defenses. It’ll be studied for years. Someone should give it a name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-iran-launching-strike-against-israel-4-13-2024/1000244.md?page=3)