In a stunning display of force, Iran launched a barrage of over 200 missiles towards Israeli territory, marking its second attack this year. This event echoes the dynamics of the 1991 Gulf War, with strategic targeting, swift military responses, and propaganda strategies playing key roles.
The night sky over Israel was illuminated by the missiles, which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses including the Iron Dome system. Air raid sirens blared across the country, sending residents rushing to bomb shelters. Iran claimed that a majority of its missiles hit their targets, with the Revolutionary Guard asserting that 90% of the missiles reached their intended destinations.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tweeted an illustration of a large underground weapons cache, accompanied by the message: “Victory comes from Allah and it is close.” This message, coupled with Iranian armed forces joint chief of staff General Mohammad Bagheri’s warning of retaliatory strikes against Israel’s entire infrastructure, signals Iran’s determination to assert its military prowess and regional dominance.
The IRGC, Iran’s paramilitary force, attributed the attacks to the killing of Abbas Nilforoshan, a top Iranian commander, and leaders of Iran-backed militias – including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah – in the region. The IRGC also referenced the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official confirmed that Ayatollah Khamenei personally ordered the missile attack.
The timing of Iran’s attack on October 1, 2024, is particularly striking. It evokes memories of the 1991 US-led attack on Iraq, which began with Operation Desert Storm on January 17 of that year. Both Iran and the US sought to assert their military prowess, employing strategic targeting and precision strikes. The US focused on dismantling Iraq’s air defenses, while Iran aimed to hit key military and infrastructural targets within Israel.
In both cases, the military responses were swift and calculated. The US coordinated a multifaceted attack involving various military branches to ensure overwhelming force. Iran, similarly, claimed a high success rate in its missile strikes, demonstrating a level of military planning and execution reminiscent of the Gulf War.
The propaganda strategies employed by both countries also draw parallels. Khamenei’s tweet about impending victory mirrors the US’s emphasis on moral justification for military action and the liberation of Kuwait as a noble cause. Both countries leveraged propaganda to bolster national morale and legitimize their military operations.
Iran justified its attack as a direct response to the killing of key military figures, echoing the US framing of its operations in Iraq, where military action was presented as a necessary response to Iraqi aggression and a means to protect regional stability.
The consequences of these military actions extend beyond the immediate conflict. The Gulf War fundamentally reshaped West Asia’s politics and solidified US involvement in the region. Similarly, Iran’s recent missile attack raises critical questions about regional stability and the potential for escalating conflict. As nations around the world respond to this latest aggression, the reverberations could reshape alliances and power dynamics for years to come.
