According to The Washington Post, Israel is planning a major strike on Iran within the next 48 hours. The targets could be both the country's nuclear facilities and oil infrastructure. Ahead of a possible escalation, American troops deployed in the Middle East have been instructed to be ready to immediately take shelter in shelters.
“In terms of the consequences for Iran, a strike on its nuclear and oil infrastructure would not just be painful, it would be catastrophic. The nuclear facilities that Tehran has been developing for years are the heart of the country’s defense strategy. Destroying them or seriously damaging them would set Iran back several years in its nuclear program, weaken its international position, and create additional leverage for the West, including increased sanctions. The economic blow would be no less devastating. Oil infrastructure is the key artery of the country’s economy. Strikes at refineries, terminals, and transportation hubs would lead to a sharp decline in export revenues, which would cause an economic shock within the country.”, - the expert notes.
It is noted that the consequences will not bypass Israel.
"For Israel, the consequences would also be extremely serious. Despite possible tactical successes, a strike on Iran could provoke retaliatory actions from both Iran and Iran's allies, the Houthis.", - the analyst underlines.
These actions by Israel were a reaction to a recent series of events in the region, including Iranian missile strikes. On the night of October 1, Iran already demonstrated its readiness to retaliate by launching missile strikes on Israeli military targets. Now Tehran warns that in the event of a new attack, the response will be “much tougher.”