Iran's New Strategy: Direct Retaliation Against Israel After Damascus Consulate Attack
Iran launched a missile and drone attack against Israel on Saturday, marking a new tough strategy from Tehran.
This shift comes after years of proxy fights and covert operations between the two arch-enemies.
The attack was in response to a deadly April 1 strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus, which Israel did not claim responsibility for.
Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles directly at Israel, but Israel's military intercepted 99 percent of them with the help of the US and other allies.
The attack caused only minor damage, but Iran claimed it had dealt "heavy blows" to Israel and hailed the operation as successful.
Iran warned that any future attack on Iran would result in a "direct and punishing response." Iran's operation in response to the attack on its embassy in Syria, which killed seven IRGC members including two generals, has marked the end of strategic patience and will result in a direct response to any targeting of Iranian personnel or assets, according to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's political deputy Mohammad Jamshidi.
Iran claimed self-defense and urged Western nations to appreciate its restraint towards Israel amid denouncements of Iran's retaliation as destabilizing the region.
The attack on the consular annexe of the Iranian embassy in Damascus was condemned by Western governments.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with Iran-backed armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen getting involved.
Several senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members have been killed in recent months in Syria, which Iran has blamed on Israel.
Iran, which has long called for Israel's destruction and supported the Palestinian cause, had previously avoided directly attacking Israel.
Experts explain that Iran has historically used a network of allied groups to exert influence in the region and deter Israel and the United States.
A 2020 report stated that Iran had adopted a policy of "strategic patience," which had been effective since the Islamic revolution in 1979.
However, on Saturday, Iran carried out a large-scale attack on Israel, surprising many in the international community.
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani advocated for a restrained response after the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and following the killing of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani.
Iran gave prior warning before launching missiles against US bases in Iraq in 2020, causing no casualties.
After an attack on Israel, Guards chief Hossein Salami threatened retaliation and the attack was described as a "new equation" and a "historic success" in Iranian media.
The Iranian media reacted to the recent Israeli airstrike on Iranian targets in Syria with differing perspectives.
The ultra-conservative Javan daily viewed the attack as a valuable learning experience for Iran, preparing them for future battles, and a deterrent for Israel.
In contrast, the reformist Ham Mihan newspaper considered the incident as a significant shift in the long-standing conflict between the two sides, marking the end of the "shadow war" and ushering in a new phase.