US firepower, Israel on high alert

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s “commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel” is the right response to the escalating Middle East crisis. The rapid deployment of US firepower including a nuclear-powered submarine and two aircraft carrier battle groups armed with a devastating airstrike capacity sends a powerful signal to the ayatollahs in Tehran and their Hezbollah, Hamas and Houthi terrorist proxies. But Washington must not be alone in hastening to demonstrate resolute support for Israel in this way.

It is in the interests of all democracies and free societies, including Australia, that Iran’s bellicose aggression against Israel does not succeed. Tehran and its proxies should be left in no doubt about the risks they face. Iran appears to have learned nothing from its abortive attack in April when it fired 100 missiles at Israel. All but one misfired, self-imploded or were intercepted and neutralised by Israel’s Iron Dome. Only one hit a target – deep in the Negev desert. Iran has claimed it is on a mission to avenge the assassination on July 31 of Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was a VIP guest at the swearing-in of new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Haniyeh was under heavy Iranian guard, staying in what was claimed to be an impenetrably secure guesthouse for visiting dignitaries. Yet Israel was able to get to him and remove him from the battlefield. And Iran’s main terrorist surrogate Hezbollah would be foolish to ignore the message signalled by recent Israeli successes in striking at the heart of Beirut, notably the July 30 assassination of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr.

That said, there should be no minimising the threat posed by Iran and its proxies. Alarming analysis by veteran nuclear inspector David Albright and fellow researcher Sarah Burkhard shows Tehran may be further along the path towards a nuclear bomb than was believed. The situation has changed “dramatically in the last several weeks”, they report, with Iran enriching uranium up to breakout point for a nuclear weapon. It has expanded a fortified complex near the deeply buried Fordow nuclear centre. That is another reason the US must not be alone in confronting Tehran’s belligerence. As tensions rise, Jordan has had the sense to warn Iran not to use its airspace to rain down missiles on Israel. No country can be expected to allow itself to be the target for existential attacks such as those perpetrated against Israel by Iran and its proxies.