On an operational success – The Economist: ‘On March 4th a pilot in the Israeli Air Force became the first member of his service to score an air-to-air kill in more than 40 years. It was hardly a fair fight. His F-35, one of the world’s most advanced warplanes, shot down an Iranian Yak-130, originally designed as a training jet. “We are punching them while they’re down,” declared Pete Hegseth, America’s secretary of war, “which is exactly how it should be”.’

And: ‘General Caine said that Iranian ballistic-missile launches were down 86% from the first day of the war, with a 23% fall between March 3rd and 4th alone. Drone attacks, he added, were down 73%.’

But: ‘For all that, military attrition, however overwhelming and effective, by no means guarantees the regime’s demise—Israel’s key war aim.’

Winning the war, and then waiting for the miracle to come.

(a sf 2071)