CNA Explains: What does Iran’s first-ever direct attack on Israel mean for the world?

An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel , as seen from Ashkelon, Israel , Apr 14, 2024. on Israel , sparking fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East and marking a major escalation of the long-running covert war between both countries.On late Saturday , Iran fired more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel in its first-ever direct assault on Israel i territory.

The strike also followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is backed by Iran. Mr Panikoff said: “I think the Iranians were fed up and said, ‘Look, we have to put an end to this … We need to do something that’s actually bigger, that’s not asymmetric or terrorist by attacking an Israeli embassy, say, in Southeast Asia.’

The fact that Iran used slow-moving Shahed drones means it anticipated most of the projectiles would be shot down as well, he added. Jordan's King Abdullah told Mr Biden in a phone call on Sunday that any further escalation from Israel would widen the conflict in the region, Jordanian state media reported.

“That could provoke this tit for tat, missile-and-drone cycle that we're starting to see evolve,” he added. “I don’t think it’s yet time to panic, but the possibility of an escalation certainly is there,” he added. On the other hand, Mr Panikoff said if Israel’s leaders can be convinced not to take military action, they could launch something in the clandestine realm.

“Those political drivers are why they're doing what they're doing. They're gaining credibility on the ground, and most of them come from systems where there are no elections for them to restore their legitimacy, so this is one of their most effective ways to win back support,” Mr Bohl added.Hamas would benefit if Israel and Iran entered a war, said Dr Pratt.

"An all-out war is going to heighten emotions, particularly in Muslim majority countries across the globe but, obviously for Singapore, among its neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia,” Dr Dorsey told CNA.

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