Israel Launches Limited Retaliatory Strikes Against Iran

Israel launched “limited” strikes against targets in Iran early on Friday, despite warnings from the U.S. that retaliation for Iran’s retaliatory strike earlier this week could escalate tensions in the region. 

The Details: Explosions were also reported at sites in Syria and Iraq. While American, Israeli, and Iranian officials told news outlets Israel was involved, Israel did not officially claim the attack, although unnamed Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post (Center bias) they did not know why the Pentagon “leaked” the news to the press. Hours after reports of Israeli missile strikes, Iranian state media said the country had downed three small drones over the city Isfahan.

For Context: The Biden administration has sought to prevent a wider regional conflict with Iran since the start of the war in Gaza, and has reportedly renewed its efforts to reach a deal to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Some media analysts said the small size of Israel’s retaliation, and Iran’s downplaying of the damage, signaled that the two countries also wanted to avoid a wider war. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was common across the spectrum Friday morning, often including analysis of the strike’s wider implications. Some coverage echoed broader attitudes about Israel; while Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias) focused on Iranian media’s reporting, The Jerusalem Post featured an analysis saying Iran was following “in footsteps of Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, and Soviet Russia.”