Iranian response in Doha was only a carefully choreographed demonstration

The story of David and Goliath, or Dawud and Jalut, appears in both the Bible and the Koran. But who are the underdogs now?

Israeli soldiers at the site of an Iranian missile strike in Beersheba, Israel, on Tuesday. Photo: AP/Leo Correa

A year ago, in response to missile attacks on Israel from Iran’s three proxy organisations, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, Israeli aircraft attacked and seriously degraded the Iranian air defence system. It was also conducted in preparation for Israel’s recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

It is worth recalling Iran’s reply. Giving two weeks warning to Israel, and its allies, it launched 400 missiles and drones at military targets, such as the air base from which some of the Israeli aircraft had flown their sorties against Iran. There were minimum casualties.