Will there be World War III?What can Israel do next after the Iranian attack?

Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel has stoked fears that the Middle East could soon descend into a wider war.

Tehran’s decision to launch 300 drones and missiles at its long-time enemy has raised questions about whether the major powers will be dragged into World War III.

For now, world leaders and international institutions are urging restraint and have no interest in a conflict that could spiral out of control.

However, experts do expect Israeli retaliation. President Benjamin Netanyahu has summoned his war cabinet to discuss next steps.

The country’s Channel 12 television network quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a “significant response” to the airstrike – Iran’s first direct attack on the country.

So what’s next for Israel? If violence escalates, how will other countries respond? I Possible future situations were considered.

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limited retaliatory strikes

Israel could choose to respond with limited, targeted strikes. Defense experts said the most likely target was a base from which Iran launched the attack.

Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, said Israel “will almost certainly respond with an attack of its own.”

But American experts wrote on the think tank website He expected Iran’s response to be “specific and controllable and not result in another major Iranian response.”

The severity of Israel’s possible retaliation will depend on the extent of the suffering. On Saturday night, almost all of the 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran were intercepted, seemingly avoiding too much damage.

An Israeli air base suffered minor damage. A seven-year-old girl was seriously injured in the south of the country, apparently in a missile attack, medics said.

The Israeli Defense Minister stated that 99% of the drones and missiles were shot down. However, Defense Minister Yoav Galante said Iran could still launch more attacks. “This event is not over yet.”

Wider retaliatory strikes

Israel may decide to go a step further and bomb a wider range of Iranian military bases, sites used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and even government buildings.

Some believe Netanyahu may choose to strike at his enemies’ energy and nuclear infrastructure. If Israel inflicts significant casualties in any attack, it may be difficult to avoid an escalating cycle of violence.

Masoud Mostajabi, deputy director of the Middle East Program at the Atlantic Council think tank, warned that Israel is currently operating in a “wartime mentality” following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack from Gaza.

The expert wrote that some within Israel want “retaliation on Iranian soil, possibly targeting critical military, energy and nuclear facilities.” He added: “If this reasoning prevails, a catastrophic war will be almost inevitable.”

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A wider war is developing in the Middle East

If Iran and Israel do carry out further strikes against each other, it may be difficult to prevent other actors in the region from becoming involved in a wider war.

Tehran often uses proxies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis to target Israel and its allies. If any armed group joins the fray, the escalation could become difficult to stop.

The US and UK are already involved to some extent. Intelligence officials told Reuters that U.S. jets helped shoot down some of the Iranian drones. British Prime Minister Sunak confirmed on Sunday that Royal Air Force jets had also shot down a number of attack drones.

Jordan also sent warplanes to shoot down Iranian drones in its airspace, security sources told Reuters. If confirmed, it is likely to escalate tensions with regional neighbor Iran.

Saudi Arabia also finds itself in a difficult position. Sunni forces in the region, which denounce Israel’s bombing of Gaza, have a longstanding antagonism with mainly Shiite Iran – which has been in conflict with the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2015.

Mostajabi warned that these actors “could find themselves targeted and dragged into regional fires to a greater extent than if they shot down a few drones.”

The worst-case scenario is that Iran’s allies Syria and Iraq also become entangled in a wider conflict.

The United States and other countries help draw lines in the conflict

World powers can help prevent wider conflict. The United Nations, the United States, Britain and other European leaders wanted to avoid war. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and other countries have warned Israel and Iran not to escalate the situation. China and Russia also joined in urging restraint.

There is also reason to believe that Iran does not intend to carry out any further attacks. To send a message to Tel Aviv, striking only a few targets in Israel could be a welcome outcome.

Since the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, was hit by an airstrike on April 1, Iran has vowed to retaliate. It holds Israel accountable, although Israel has not yet accepted this.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations warned: “If the Israeli regime makes another mistake, Iran’s response will be more severe.” However, Tehran’s delegation also said that Tehran now also “believes that the matter is over.”

Pressure from Washington could help limit any Israeli response.this Axios The website quoted senior White House officials as saying that President Joe Biden has told Netanyahu that the United States will oppose any counterattack.

On intercepting drones and missiles, Mr Biden is said to have told the Israeli leader: “You win. Take the win.”

A strong desire to avoid a wider war may lead Iran and Israel to decide to temporarily draw the line at direct hostilities. But tensions will remain high for the foreseeable future, and containing violence once it breaks out will not be easy.