Iran鱿鱼视频app unprecedented aerial attack on Israel overnight April 13-14 followed a suspected Israeli strike two weeks prior on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, killing 16 people including two Iranian generals. Iran launched over 300 drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles at Israel, 99 per cent of which were intercepted by Israel鱿鱼视频app military in coordination with a U.S.-led coalition of allies, according to Israel鱿鱼视频app military.
Despite decades of hostile posturing towards Israel from Iran, the attack marked Iran鱿鱼视频app first direct military assault on the state of Israel, raising concern the conflict could spread through the region.
In an April 13 statement, U.S. President Joe Biden said, 鈥淚 condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.鈥�
Biden added he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 鈥渢o reaffirm America鱿鱼视频app ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.鈥� Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did likewise in condemning the attacks as well.
Biden said he would convene 鈥渇ellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran鱿鱼视频app brazen attack.鈥�
Mary Ellen O鈥機onnell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School who specializes in international law and conflict resolution, told 鱿鱼视频app News that 鈥渢he clear success in countering Iran鱿鱼视频app missile and drone strikes on Israel is a dramatic demonstration of the true legal and moral meaning of 鈥榮elf-defense.鈥� 鈥�
鈥淚t is not pre-empting potential attacks that may never happen or assassinating a person and killing those around him or carrying out punitive strikes,鈥� O鈥機onnell said. 鈥淭rue self-defense means to 鈥榟alt and repel鈥� incoming attacks.鈥�
However, O鈥機onnell added, 鈥淚f Israel carries out an attack on Iran in the aftermath of drone and missile attacks, Israel, too will be violating the law and morality. Because such a response will not be in self-defense. Israel鱿鱼视频app attack in Syria on Iran鱿鱼视频app diplomatic premises was not self-defense.鈥�
O鈥機onnell said 鈥渢he tit-for-tat retaliatory cycle needs to end 鈥� replaced by true self-defense.鈥�
鈥淭he response to Iran on April 13 was lawful, moral and effective,鈥� she said. 鈥淧resident Biden needs to ensure that is the standard the U.S. follows itself and holds its allies, too. Then he needs to win ceasefires in Gaza and Sudan.鈥�
Robert Kennedy, a professor of Catholic studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, said the U.S. is 鈥渇aced with some very difficult choices鈥� in the broader conflict.
鈥淎nd among those choices, I think, is simply to take steps to make it clear that those who want Israel to disappear cannot win,鈥� he said.
Kennedy said the U.S. and some other nations 鈥渁re in a position to ensure a relatively peaceful world or to disrupt a relatively peaceful world.鈥�
鈥淚 think we need to be realistic about our opponents and about our own actions,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd whether they promote peace and harmony or disrupt peace and harmony.鈥�