'This is how World War III begins': As missiles rain on Tel Aviv, analysts say the next strike could drag the world in

Economic Times

14-06-2025

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Israel has vowed a harsh response after three civilians were killed near Tel Aviv in Iranian missile strikes. In a statement that drew immediate global concern, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared, 'If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.'Katz accused Iran of using its citizens as shields for its aggression, saying, 'The Iranian dictator is taking the citizens of Iran hostage. It is bringing about a reality in which they, and especially Tehran's residents, will pay a heavy price for the flagrant harm inflicted upon Israel's citizens.'Iran, in turn, issued threats to Western nations, warning that any support for Israel could make them targets. Mehr News Agency, a state-run Iranian outlet, stated: 'Any country that participates in repelling Iran's attacks on Israel will be subject to Iranian forces targeting all regional bases of the complicit government, including military bases in the Persian Gulf countries and ships and naval vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.'Overnight, Israel launched what officials are calling Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale military response to Iran's prior provocations. Israeli military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Deffrin said, '200 Israeli fighter jets participated in the operation overnight, striking some 100 targets,' while Iran responded by launching around 100 drones toward Israeli territory.
As reported by the Mirror, security expert Professor Anthony Glees, a lecturer at the University of Buckingham, said the nature and scale of Israel's response may be 'a blueprint' for how a third world war would unfold. In comments to the Mirror, he outlined two likely scenarios that could drag Europe into a broader conflict, 'First, that Iran hits back hard, is supported by its admittedly weakened proxies, Hezbollah, the Houthis and what's left of Hamas, as well as its chums in the region and beyond.'
Glees also warned that authoritarian leaders such as Putin, Kim Jong-Un, and Xi Jinping could view a distracted and weakened United States as an opportunity to act. 'We recall that Putin is firing Shahed drones at Ukraine,' he said. 'Now is the time to pursue their own bugbears in Ukraine, South Korea and Taiwan.'The situation has drawn strong responses across the international spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a Downing Street readout, they 'discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate.' The statement added, 'The UK is poised to work closely with its allies in the coming days to support a diplomatic resolution.'Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump confirmed that embassy staff had been moved out of Iraq, and voluntary departures were authorised in Bahrain and Kuwait. Speaking on Wednesday, he said, 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens.' He added, 'They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple—we're not going to allow that.'Professor Glees painted a chilling picture of how modern warfare could unfold in Europe. The first stage, he warned, would be cyberattacks. 'There's no doubt our primary enemy would be Putin's Russia,' he said. 'It will not only knock out our digital communications networks... normal life in the UK would grind to a rapid halt and there will be panic.'Glees described how Israel reportedly sent mobile alerts to every citizen at 3am—even to phones switched off. 'I've no doubt the Israelis took down the Iranian digital networks a few seconds afterwards,' he added.This would be followed by drone attacks on intelligence and military leadership. 'We here will likely see a massive drone attack taking out our top military brass, the heads of MI6, MI5 and GCHQ,' he said, even referencing current political staff as potential targets.'MI6 currently flying the Pride flag would make it a doubly attractive target to Putin who thinks we're all sexually confused and obsessed.'British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK is moving fighter jets and other 'assets' to the Middle East. 'We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support,' he told reporters en route to the G7 summit in Canada.Starmer said he had spoken with both US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, describing the talks as 'constructive.' He added, 'Our constant message is de-escalate.'Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the call. 'We must urgently de-escalate & prevent any further harm to civilians,' he posted on social media, adding that he had spoken with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi 'to urge calm.'Back in the Middle East, time may be running out. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing for a military strike on Iran regardless of US support. NBC News cited sources saying Israel may move within weeks if nuclear talks go poorly.While Trump continues negotiating with Tehran, Israeli officials fear any deal that allows uranium enrichment could be exploited by Iran.For Professor Glees, the lesson is stark. 'A pre-emptive strike may become the best option,' he said. 'Our PM (and I think Starmer would be up for this) would order a pre-emptive hit on Moscow. We'd do to them exactly what they were hoping to do to us. And we'd end up secure for the next decade.'As diplomacy battles against timelines and missiles, the world now faces a question that grows louder each day: can this be stopped before it's too late?Israel struck more than 150 targets across Iran for a second straight day on Saturday, destroying key nuclear and military infrastructure and prompting Tehran to call off diplomatic talks with Washington.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were only the beginning. 'We will hit every site and every target of the Ayatollahs' regime, and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days,' he said in a recorded statement.
The offensive, which began Friday, followed Israel's targeted killing of several top Iranian commanders. It has already claimed more than 70 lives, including nine nuclear scientists and multiple senior Revolutionary Guard officers. Iranian officials said 78 people were killed on the first day of Israeli attacks, and scores more on Saturday. One missile destroyed a 14-storey residential block in Tehran, killing 60, including 29 children. Iranian state TV showed the building's crumbled remains and damaged homes nearby.'Smoke and dust were filling all the house and we couldn't breathe,' said Tehran resident Mohsen Salehi, speaking to Iranian outlet WANA after an overnight airstrike.Iran's response came swiftly. On Friday night, it launched over 200 ballistic missiles and drone swarms at Israeli cities. Three people were killed, and 174 injured, many in Tel Aviv. Air raid sirens blared through the night. In cities like Rishon LeZion, homes were reduced to rubble.'We're still trying to anticipate what will happen this evening. It's better to play it safe,' said Jordan Falkenstein, a resident in Tel Aviv.Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin warned the public on Saturday night that more attacks could follow and urged vigilance.A senior Israeli military official confirmed that significant damage was inflicted on Iran's nuclear programme. Strikes targeted the Natanz enrichment plant, Isfahan, and a military hangar at Mehrabad airport in Tehran. Aboveground structures were flattened, while uranium enrichment sites were reportedly disrupted.The official claimed Israel had 'eliminated the highest commanders of their military leadership' and described the nine scientists killed as 'main forces driving forward the [nuclear] programme.'The UN nuclear watchdog confirmed damage at Natanz and reported contamination, though Rafael Grossi, its chief, said the leak was 'manageable.'Diplomatic talks between Iran and the US, scheduled for Sunday in Oman, have been cancelled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said talks were 'unjustifiable' while Israel's 'barbarous' attacks continued.Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, added: 'It is obvious that in such circumstances... it will be meaningless to participate in dialogue with the party that is the biggest supporter and accomplice of the aggressor.'Despite not joining the attack, the US has backed Israel's actions. President Donald Trump said the strikes gave Washington more leverage and warned Iran of 'much worse to come' unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions.On Saturday, Israeli bombs reportedly hit Iran's South Pars gas field in Bushehr province, causing a fire and partial suspension of gas output. This marks the first time Iran's energy infrastructure has been hit in the current conflict.Crude oil prices surged by 7% on Friday over concerns of regional supply disruptions.A senior Iranian commander, Esmail Kosari, said Tehran was considering shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil transport.The scale of Israel's attacks and the weakness of Iran's defence systems have rattled Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces growing pressure. If he escalates, he risks drawing in the US. If he retreats, it may look like defeat.Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned, 'If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.'Iran has also warned US-allied bases in the region they would be targeted if involved in intercepting Iranian missiles.Tehran's traditional allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, are now depleted after fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. Their absence weakens Iran's capacity to respond through proxies.Despite pleas from world powers for restraint, both countries appear set for a prolonged confrontation.Netanyahu declared that the campaign would continue 'for as many days as it takes.' The consequences, already severe, could soon spiral into a wider war.