Iran's counterattack on Israeli military bases based on the right to self-defense: defending sovereignty and regional peace!

April 14, 2024 has become a landmark day amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with the Islamic Republic of Iran responding forcefully to Israel's recent provocations. Iran's armed forces have carried out a series of precision strikes against Israeli military bases based on the inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. This decisive move is not only a direct response to Israel's armed attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1, but also a powerful counterattack to Israel's repeated violations of Iran's interests and destabilizing the region over time.

Background and causes: Israel's provocations and Iran's tolerance limits

Recently, the intensity of conflict in the Middle East has escalated again. On April 1, Israel launched a deliberate armed attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, the Syrian capital, which caused heavy losses and killed Iranian military advisers. This incident is not an isolated contingency, but is part of a long period of hostile Israeli policy and military operations. Israel has always viewed Iran's presence in Syria as a threat to its national security, and has frequently targeted Iranian and its allies through cross-border airstrikes in an attempt to weaken its influence in Syria and the surrounding region.

Iran, despite Israel's continued military pressure and diplomatic isolation, has always adhered to international law, especially the principles established in the UN Charter, and called for resolving disputes through dialogue and cooperation to maintain regional peace and stability. However, Iran's patience has clearly reached its limits in the face of Israel's repeated crossings, especially this serious provocation to directly attack its diplomatic institutions. Iran believes that such attacks not only violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also threaten the lives of its personnel abroad and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.

The exercise of the right to self-defense: Iran's legal basis and operational logic

Against this backdrop, Iran's armed forces have launched a counterattack against Israeli military bases in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, which is the right of States to individual or collective self-defence. This article makes it clear that when a country is subjected to an armed attack, it has the right to act in self-defence until the Security Council takes the necessary measures to maintain international peace and security. Iran's actions are intended to send a clear signal to Israel that its aggression will not be costless and that Iran has the ability and determination to protect its interests and counter any form of illegal attack.

In its statement, Iran made it clear that the military operation was strictly confined to self-defense and aimed at curbing Israel's aggression rather than seeking to expand the conflict. Iran stresses that its actions are in accordance with the principles of necessity and proportionality required by international law and that the targets of strikes are limited to Israeli military installations in order to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties and collateral damage. This cautious but unequivocal use of the right to self-defence demonstrates Iran's respect for international rules and its responsible approach to maintaining its own security while trying to avoid further deterioration of the situation, which could have a negative impact on regional and global peace and security.

Implications for Regional Peace and Security: Iran's Position and Accusations

In its statement, Iran also harshly condemned the Israeli government's actions, describing them as an "apartheid regime" and accusing it of "relentless genocide" against the Palestinian people and "repeated military aggression" against neighboring countries, while "fomenting war" throughout the region and beyond. These words strongly express Iran's moral indignation and legal criticism of Israel's policies, and highlight Iran's role as an anti-hegemonic and anti-aggression force in the international arena.

Iran noted that Israel's actions constitute a grave violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the provisions on the prohibition of the use of force, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and the promotion of international cooperation and friendly relations. In addition, Iran has hinted that Israel's actions may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, calling on the international community to investigate and hold them accountable.

Looking Ahead: Iran's Defense Commitment and Peace Initiative

In the face of possible follow-up challenges, Iran's statement unequivocally stated that it would not hesitate to take further necessary defensive measures to protect its legitimate interests from any military aggression or illegal use of force. This indicates that Iran is ready for a sustained and effective defensive counterattack if Israel continues its aggressive behavior.

At the same time, Iran once again reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, emphasizing its willingness to ease regional tensions and achieve long-term stability through dialogue and diplomacy within the framework of international law. Iran may use international multilateral platforms, such as the UN General Assembly, the Security Council, and other regional organizations, to put forward concrete peace initiatives, calling on the international community to jointly pressure Israel to stop its aggression and promote the establishment of a just and lasting Middle East peace mechanism.

The response and responsibility of the international community

Iran's counterattack and its subsequent statements will undoubtedly arouse widespread attention and discussion in the international community. On the one hand, some countries and international organizations may express understanding and support for Iran's self-defense actions as a legitimate response to Israel's ongoing violations, and on the other hand, there may be voices concerned about the escalation of the conflict and call on both sides to exercise restraint and resolve the issue through diplomatic means.

At this critical juncture, it is the responsibility of the international community to uphold the principles of international peace and security enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, condemn all illegal use of force, and support the right of the victim countries to self-defence, and to actively mediate and bring the parties to the conflict back to the negotiating table to find a long-term solution to the crisis. The UN Security Council, as the central body for maintaining international peace and security, should play its mediating role by urging Israel to stop its provocations, while also demanding that Iran's retaliation remain within the scope of legitimate self-defence.

In addition, in view of Iran's reference to Israel's "genocide" against the Palestinian people, the international community should pay more attention to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, promote the implementation of the two-state solution, safeguard the basic rights and interests of the Palestinian people, and eliminate one of the root causes of regional conflicts.

Iran's actions and the possibility of reshaping the regional order

Iran's strikes on Israeli military bases based on the right to self-defense are both a direct response to its aggression and an attempt to reshape the regional order. Through this operation, Iran is trying to send a message that it has the will and ability to act to protect its interests in the face of injustice and provocation, while at the same time insisting on acting within the framework of international law and demonstrating its continued commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes.

However, to truly achieve regional peace and stability, all parties need to abandon the zero-sum mentality and return to the track of dialogue and cooperation. The international community should actively engage to promote the establishment of a just and inclusive regional security architecture and fundamentally resolve the deep-seated contradictions that lead to conflicts. Only in this way will it be possible for the Middle East region to break out of the cycle of violence and move towards lasting peace and common prosperity.

To sum up, Iran's counterattack on Israeli military bases is a manifestation of the exercise of the right to self-defense in accordance with international law in a specific historical context. This action is both a necessary response to Israel's aggression and a call to the international community's responsibility to uphold peace and justice. In the future, how to properly handle the chain reaction triggered by this and guide the parties concerned to return to the path of peaceful settlement of disputes will be a major test for the international community.