Five ways Iran can retaliate if U.S strikes the Islamic Republic
As US president Donald Trump has indicated that he might have a plan for a potential strike on Iran, and although the order is yet to be issued, 40,000 US troops deployed across the Middle East stand ready, but Iran has several ways to retaliate, as per a report.
Here's what could happen if the US attacks Iran:
1. Ballistic Missiles: First and Fastest Response
Iran's probable response would be to fire missiles at neighbouring US bases, something it has done even previously, according to The Telegraph. Iran attacked US sites in Iraq in 2020, wounding more than 100 soldiers, as per the report. American military bases in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf are within the 2,000 km range of Iran's Sejil-2 ballistic missile, reported Telegraph.
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2. Proxy Attacks: Iran's Militant Network
Tehran might mobilise proxy forces such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, or the Houthis in Yemen to attack US forces or their allies, according to the report. Hezbollah and Hamas had also kept Israel's military occupied, which made it unable to strike at the Islamic Republic, while Houthi rebels also distracted the West by targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea, reported the Telegraph.
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According to the report, Hezbollah might 'act directly against its [US] interests and bases across the region', if the US joins the war against Iran.
3. Strait of Hormuz: Choking the World's Oil
Iran might try to close the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical shipping lane for world oil, with mines, missiles, or drones launched from naval ships, as per The Telegraph. Even if the passage is closed for a short time, it would send oil prices high across the world, according to the report. US aircraft carriers are now in place to stop this, but removing mines is still tricky.
4. Oil Facilities: Targeting the Heart of Gulf Energy
Iran could hit Saudi Arabian or UAE oil fields and refineries, like it reportedly did in 2019, as per The Telegraph. These attacks have the potential to raise global oil prices and destabilise the energy market, as per the report. The worst-case scenario of taking out a facility like Abqaiq again, through which Saudi Arabia processes most of its oil, according to the report.
5. Cyber Attacks: Silent Sabotage
Iran has previously claimed responsibility for numerous cyber attacks against Israel, like destroying data, phishing campaigns and information operations, the Telegraph reported. While, the US government has been trying to get information on Iranian hackers responsible for targeting critical infrastructure because of the high threat it poses to both civilians and the military, as per the report.
FAQs
What might Iran do if the US strikes?
Iran could launch missile attacks on US bases nearby, use proxy groups to carry out attacks, or target critical infrastructure like oil facilities, as per the report.
Can Iran really close off the Strait of Hormuz?
They could try using mines, missiles, or drones, however, the US is actively trying to prevent this.
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