How might Iran seek to hurt Israel after general's killing?
By Baran Abbasi
Iran has vowed to respond to Monday’s air strike on its consulate in Damascus – but what capacity does Iran have to hurt Israel and what form might retaliation take?
Thirteen people were killed including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, an important figure in the Quds force, the overseas branch of Iran’s elite Republican Guards. Israel has not said whether it was behind the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “completely lost his mental balance”, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was quoted as saying on his ministry’s website.
The escalation was designed to show the world that Iran was a “paper tiger”, said Fawaz Gerges, professor of International Relations at London School of Economics. It also represented a significant loss to the Quds force, “which is really for coordination and arms and technology transfers to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria”.
Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam brigades, has said Brig Gen Zahedi had a “prominent role” in the 7 October Hamas attacks on southern Israel, which sparked the current war in Gaza that is threatening to spread. Iran has denied a role in the attack itself but backs Hamas with funding, weapons and training.
However Iran’s options for retaliation for the Damascus strike may be limited in scope and number, Mr Gerges and other experts told the BBC.
“Iran is not capable of a big confrontation with Israel given its military capabilities and economic and political situation,” said Ali Sadrzadeh an author and analyst of Middle East affairs. “But it will have to come up with a response for domestic consumption and to protect its reputation among its regional allies.”
Mr Gerges also said Iran was unlikely to retaliate directly against Israel, “even though Israel really humiliated Iran and bloodied Iran’s nose”.
