But Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, warned this week: “If Iran attacks from its own territory, Israel will respond and attack in Iran.”
With the threat of a new war in the Middle East rising, experts have raised concerns over Iran’s new long-range drone model, the Mohajer 10, which Tehran has previously claimed is capable of “bombing Israel into the stone age”.
Experts remain sceptical that Iran would make as drastic a move as striking Israel directly.
However, one observer has warned that Israel’s Iron Dome defence system would be overwhelmed by Iranian rockets should an attack be launched.
Dr Steven Wagner, a senior lecturer in international security at Brunel University, told The Telegraph: “If they decide it’s on and we are going to give all we have, they would shut down the northern half of the country for sure, it would be impossible to go outside, and Israeli missile defences would be swamped by this level of barrage.”
Jonathan Panikoff, a director at the Atlantic Council, also said recently: “A kinetic attack using ballistic missiles or drones against Israeli homeland targets would be the most impactful, and risky, option available to Tehran.
“While Iran might seek to prevent escalation to a full-scale war, for example, by striking military or intelligence targets only, as opposed to civilian ones, this is still a risky step given that Iran has been trying to avoid a wider conflict for which it is likely ill-prepared.”
