Israel’s limited attack on Iran was to send a message that it can penetrate Iranian defenses whenever it wants, experts say [Video]

Israel carried out a military strike on Iranian soil in the early hours of Friday morning, US sources and an Israeli official told multiple international news outlets.

It marks the latest exchange in the ongoing conflict between the two countries, which until recently had largely played out in the shadows.

Following calls for restraint by Israel’s allies after Iran sent a barrage of missiles and drones toward Israel last weekend — itself the result of an Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus — the latest attack was limited in scope and caused little to no damage.

In fact, analysts say it was primarily orchestrated to send a message: Israel can reach deep into Iranian soil, including its nuclear sites.

While Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike, an unnamed Israeli official told The Washington Post that it was in retaliation for last Saturday’s attack.

The unnamed official told the Post that the attack was not orchestrated to cause …