Iran’s Historic Aerial Assault on Israel: SITREP and Policy Options

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The Islamic Republic of Iran ramped up its decades-long assault on Israel with an unprecedented attack last night, firing an estimated 300 drones and missiles at Israel – including directly from Iranian soil. Israel’s multi-layered missile defense system, along with robust support from a broad coalition of allied partners in the region, successfully thwarted the aerial offensive targeting Israeli civilians. All eyes are now on Jerusalem to see what happens next.

Join FDD for a virtual event to hear from leading experts on the details of the attack and the policy options Israel and its partners in the West, including the United States, might be considering in response to deter further aggression by the emboldened regime in Tehran. Tune in for the discussion featuring former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) international spokesperson and FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus; FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz; FDD Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer; and founder and president of Israel-based Alma Research and Education Center Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi.

Jonathan Conricus

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, a military diplomat, foreign relations expert. He most recently served as international spokesperson for the IDF in the wake of the Hamas October 7 attacks. From various vantage points along and beyond Israel’s borders, Jonathan has delivered hundreds of security and strategic briefings to foreign groups and dignitaries, including heads of state, military professionals, senior government officials, students, and civil society. Jonathan is a member of the Israel Defense and Security Forum and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Mark Dubowitz

Mark Dubowitz is the chief executive of FDD. Mark is an expert on Iran’s nuclear program and global threat network, and is widely recognized as one of the key influencers in shaping policies to counter the threats from the regime in Iran. Iran sanctioned Mark and FDD, calling them “the designing and executing arm of the U.S. administration” on Iran policy. These threats led to bipartisan condemnation, including from Trump, Obama, Bush and Clinton administration officials. In 2022, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC accused Mark and FDD of playing “a key role in organizing the rebellions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Jonathan Schanzer

Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization’s experts and scholars. Jonathan previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he played an integral role in the designation of numerous terrorist financiers. He has held previous think tank research positions at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Middle East Forum. Jonathan has written hundreds of articles on the Middle East, along with more than a dozen monographs and chapters for edited volumes. Jonathan testifies often before Congress and publishes widely in the American and international media.

Sarit Zehavi

Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi is the founder and president of Alma – a nonprofit and an independent research and education center specialized in Israel’s security challenges on its northern border. Sarit has briefed hundreds of groups and forums, ranging from U.S. members of Congress to senior journalists and visiting VIP groups in Israel and overseas. Sarit has authored numerous position papers and updates focusing on Lebanon, Syria, and Israel’s national security challenges. She served for 15 years in the Israeli Defense Forces, specializing in Military Intelligence. Sarit holds an M.A. in Middle East Studies from Ben-Gurion University. Her unique achievements led her to be selected by the Jerusalem Post as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Global Jewish personalities of 2021.