Israel continues with military actions, shows attack on Iranian consulate

NOS News•today, 7:46 PM

Iran promises to respond after a commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards was killed in an Israeli attack in the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus. It is one of the largest attacks in the ‘shadow war’ between the two countries, as Israel continues to intensify its military actions.

At least seven Iranian officers were killed in the attack last night. One of them is General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, an important figure in the Revolutionary Guards. Zahedi was one of the leaders of the Quds Force, an elite unit responsible for foreign operations. For several years, Zahedi was the highest commander in Syria and Lebanon.

“We will make the country regret this crime,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed, referring to Israel. Hezbollah also says it will respond. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but officials have told The New York Times that the country is responsible.

It is the first time since the war in Gaza that Israel has attacked a diplomatic post. The laws of the country where they are established apply on their territory, but diplomatic posts do enjoy immunity.

The Israeli army has carried out frequent attacks on foreign territory in the region in recent months, often targeting pro-Iranian militias. Weapons depots or other military posts were usually hit. “An attack on a consulate crosses a line,” says Koert Debeuf, Middle East expert and professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

With the attacks, Israel is increasingly pushing for escalation, but so far Iran and Hezbollah have not shown themselves willing to go along with this. In January, Israel liquidated a Hamas leader in Beirut, further straining relations.

The Israeli army and Hezbollah have been bombarding each other with rockets for months. Israel is increasingly crossing the border: in recent weeks, eastern Lebanon has come under fire.

Iran says it will take revenge, Tehran has few other options. “Iran cannot offer anything equivalent in return,” said Joost Hiltermann, analyst and Middle East expert for think tank International Crisis Group. “It could ask one of its militias to carry out a predictable retaliation, for example by firing rockets into northern Israel.”

In this explainer we explain more about Iran’s role in the Middle East:

Iran does not want the conflict to get out of hand, but it will still have to respond to maintain its credibility as a regional power, experts say. Zahedi’s death is reminiscent of the attack on popular top general Qassam Soleimani, who was killed by a US airstrike in Iraq in 2020. “It is already the second top executive to be killed just like that,” says Debeuf. “First by Trump, now by Netanyahu.”

In recent years, Iran has built up a large network of friendly militias in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. These groups belong to the ‘Axis of Resistance’, as Iran calls it, and regularly carry out attacks on American military bases, among others. And Houthi rebels in Yemen have been shelling ships in the Red Sea that are said to have a relationship with Israel for months, in solidarity with the Palestinians.

There have been no condemnations of Israel’s military action from Western countries, although diplomatic posts enjoy immunity. “Israel knows very well that they can push boundaries without consequences,” Hiltermann said. “The West will not reprimand Israel, Iran is the enemy of the United States and Europe and also the country that supports Hamas.”

Criticism of Israel’s violent actions in Gaza after the Hamas terror attack has left the country increasingly alone. Shifting the war to other groups backed by Iran could be a way to regain support. “Israel seems to realize that it cannot go much further in Gaza,” Debeuf said. “So they have to try something different.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu has often been accused of wanting to continue the war in Gaza in order to stay in power. “This government under Netanyahu is not opting for a diplomatic solution, but is looking for more conflict,” Hiltermann said. “Once they are done in Gaza, there is a good chance they will continue in Lebanon.”