Islam Times - Out of Frying Pan into Fire: Netanyahu Struggling after Iran Strike

Islam Times - While after the extensive missile and drone strikes by the IRGC at the Israeli regime that drew the outlook of deterrence rules in the region many were expecting the Israeli regime to react, Tel Aviv leaders have chosen the less troublesome choices for the fear of confrontation of the Islamic Republic, revealing to the world that the decades of Israeli threats against Iran are empty— a reality the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir confirmed in his description of the so-called attack on Isfahan in one word: Ridiculous.

However, part of the Israeli reaction took place in the form of strikes in Iraq on Saturday night. Earlier Saturday, media reported an aerial attack on Kalsu military base, where Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a voluntary force formed in 2014 following a fatwa by Grand Shiite Cleric Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Sisistani in opposition to ISIS terrorist group, operate in Babil province.

A military official said that the Kalsu base is operated jointly by the army and the PMF. The PMF, called Hashd Al-Sha'abi in Arabic, in a statement said that an investigation team arrived at the site of the explosion and so far, in addition to the material damage, one person was killed and 8 others were injured.

Meanwhile, the head of the security committee of Babil province said the attack was planned and several sites have been struck. He added that the initial investigations have found that the attacks were carried out using missiles not drones.

These aggressive attacks targeted a garage and two offices of Hashd forces at the main entrance of the base, and the intensity of the attacks was reported strong. An official in the Iraqi ministry of interior said the explosion resulting from the missile attacks affected the equipment and weapons, including heavy and armored vehicles, in the base.

Another Iraqi official said that according to the initial information, the explosion was caused by an Israeli air strike, and Baghdad will investigate the issue.

Noting that the explosions in the base were strong, Al-Mayadeen reported that the attack was carried out by drones. But some Iraqi security officials said that the attack was carried out with several missiles.

Though it is yet to be officially clear who was behind the aggression, pieces of evidence show that the Israeli regime was behind it. The X account of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meaningful post in early Saturday morning wrote "happy Saturday." Some suggest that this message was the prelude to the attack that a few hours later followed.

Since the conflict between PMF and American forces has intensified in recent months, immediately after this attack, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in a statement denied any involvement in this attack and saying that: "We are aware of reports claiming that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq today." The statement claimed that the US military has no activity in the areas where the explosion took place. Tel Aviv officials said they do not comment on Kalsu attack.

Iraqi resistance threatens to strike back

After this attack, the PMF threatened to give a "crushing response" to the perpetrators of this crime. Abu Alaa Al-Welaee, the general secretary of the Seyyed al-Shohda Brigades, wrote on his account on X that "whoever is behind this heinous attack on Hashd Al-Sha'abi base will be responded to. Whoever is behind the attack or proven to have hands in this heinous crime will pay the price after investigations are completed... If the enemy thinks that the hands of the Hashd Al-Sha'abi are tied down and does not expect a response, they are wrong. The resistance is not like that."

Following these attacks, the Iraqi resistance reported attacks deep into the Israeli regime, adding: "In response to the crimes of the occupying regime in Gaza and in support of the people of this region, as well as in response to the attack on the Hashd al-Shaabi base, our mujahedeen (fighters) have attacked an important target in the occupied Eilat." The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also emphasized they continue to attack the enemy's positions.

The essence of threats by Sayyed Al-Shohada Brigades shows that the resistance groups see the US involved in this attack. It is noteworthy that the Iraqi resistance groups suspended their anti-American attacks following an agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to expel the US occupation forces from Iraq. But the warning indicates that if the US is proven involved in the attack, the resistance will stop committing to the agreement with the government and as a result, a new round of attacks would be likely.

Although the US tried to clear itself from involvement in the attack, this does not reduce its responsibility in anti-resistance hostility. It is certain that the main driver of the Israeli regime's genocide in Gaza is the unwavering support of the US, which has given the Israelis a leeway to kill more Palestinians on the strength of military and diplomatic support at the UN Security Council. On the other hand, Iraqi groups see Washington as the main cause of insecurity in Iraq and the region, and it seems that this country has provided Israel with information on Hashd al-Shaabi headquarters so that it can carry out its attacks precisely.

So, the US is accomplice to any crime and warmongering in the region and against the resistance forces and has to pay the price. It is noteworthy that over the past six months, resistance groups have carried out several attacks on the US bases in the region and insist they will continue until the Americans withdraw and the Israeli stop war on Gaza.

Reversing the scandal of Isfahan

Attack on the PMF base came a day after surroundings of an air base in the Iranian province of Isfahan came under a raid of four quadcoppers, an attack some informed sources attributed to Israel.

Over the past week, Tel Aviv officials claimed that they would give a strong response to the retaliatory missile and drone strikes by the IRGC, but the failure of the drones to achieve their goals and the inability of fighters to incur into Iran's territory to carry out military operations has forced the authorities of Tel Aviv to move back from their stated policies and threats.

Netanyahu and his cabal have come to the belief that direct confrontation with Iran has a heavy price for the very Israeli existence, so, instead of direct encounter, they have chosen to attract Iran's allies in the region to mend their image and prestige.

This comes while this type of reaction even failed to satisfy the Israeli leaders themselves and in a great political scandal, Itamar Ben-Gvir called the so-called quadcopper attack on Isfahn base "ridiculous.", triggering a wave of reactions in the occupied territories. Netanyahu appears to have conducted Iraq attack to appease the hardline cabinet ministers and assure them he does not fail to ensure security of Israelis.

With the recent attack on PMF base, scope of resistance attacks on the Israeli regime will undoubtedly expand as the resistance groups in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen have proven over the past six months of Gaza war they are not even afraid of the Western coalition backing the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza.