Middle East Steps Back From Brink of Larger War

With Israel’s retaliatory attack on Iran finished, the Middle East appears to be drawing back—for now—from the brink of a wider war. Complying with pressure from President Joe Biden to avoid hitting Iran’s nuclear facilities or energy-producing installations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) focused on military sites such as air defenses, missile and drone production, and launch sites early on Oct. 26. The attack came in retaliation for Iran’s launch of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1. Israel said most of them were downed but reports of damage to air bases emerged later. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack “precise and powerful” and said it met all of Israel’s objectives....