Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper stated that Iran is likely to retaliate against Israel for a recent missile strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria. The strike resulted in the death of senior Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, a Lebanese security source identified them as the responsible party. In response, an Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment on foreign media reports.
Esper, in an interview on CNN, predicted that Iran would take action against Israel but on a limited scale to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East. He mentioned that Iran would act to maintain credibility with its proxies in the region and satisfy hardliners within the theocracy. However, he also noted that Iran would likely avoid escalating the situation to prevent a major conflict with Israel and the United States.
Iran has expressed its intention to deliver a decisive response to the purported Israeli strike, which resulted in the deaths of six Iranian military advisers in addition to Zahedi. President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the threat from Iran, with the U.S. expressing full support for Israel's defense against Iranian threats.
Despite the increased rhetoric from Iran, U.S. defense officials stated that there have been no changes in force posture in the Middle East following the Israeli air strike in Damascus. Israel, on the other hand, has implemented operational changes, including canceling leave for IDF personnel and calling up additional reservists to enhance air defense systems along the northern border.
Furthermore, Israel has experienced GPS disruptions, with some applications showing users located in Beirut, Lebanon, as a deliberate tactic to confuse Israeli drone threats. An IDF spokesperson emphasized that Israel is facing a multi-front war and is prepared for any scenario by monitoring all threats across various fronts.
