Iran readying for war with Israel, says NYT report

Published: 26 October 2024

Iran can fire up to 1,000 ballistic missiles if Israel attacks key sites

Agencies
New York

Iran is readying for war with Israel while at the same time seeking to avoid one, and its next steps will be determined by the size of Israel’s response to Tehran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack, according to a report in New York Times.

Citing four Iranian officials, The New York Times reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered Iran’s armed forces to formulate numerous plans based on the potential outcome of an expected retaliatory attack by Israel, which has been weeks in the making.

“Iran has ordered the armed forces to be prepared for war but also to try to avoid it,” the report said.
The officials said that if Israel were to inflict significant damage on sensitive sites, such as oil and nuclear facilities, or if it were to tar-get senior Iranian officials, Iran would without a doubt escalate further.

In this instance, the sources said, Iran could fire a barrage of up to 1,000 ballistic missiles — a significant step up in comparison to the 200 it fired on October 1 — or even disrupt global energy supplies and international trade routes.

However, if Israel were to limit its response to striking weapons warehouses or military bases, Tehran may conclude that it is in its best interest to do nothing, bringing an end to the latest round of direct conflict between the two countries.

IRGC chief Hossein Salami warned on Thursday that even with the assistance of an advanced US missile defense system recently stationed in Israel, it wouldn’t be able to ward off future attacks from Tehran.
“Just as the Arrow anti-missile systems did not work during Operation True Promise 2, the THAAD systems will not work either. Do not rely on THAAD, they have limited capabilities,” Russian state news agency TASS quoted Salami as saying.

The THAAD, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System, is a critical part of the US military’s layered air defense systems and adds to Israel’s already formidable anti-missile defenses.
“You cannot win this conflict, we will destroy you,” Salami threatened.