The leading Dutch paper De Telegraaf quoted the official Israeli report: "Almost all Iranian drones intercepted." A second story quoted Prime Minister Mark Rutte "Rutte 'forcefully' condemns Iran's attack on Israel."

The Islamic Republic's reliance on a triad of strategies – missile launches, the provocation of proxy terrorist groups, and an aggressive propaganda campaign – betray a regime more concerned with maintaining appearances than securing genuine victories.

Against the backdrop of Iran's Ukraine war involvement and partnership in the anti-US, anti-West axis, there lies an opnening for the US to restore its stature in the Middle East, strengthen the pro-Western front, and impact the global order.

US President Joe Biden, who spoke by phone with the Israeli leader, said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he called Iran's brazen attack.