Iran Vows Revenge Against Israel After Embassy strike, Regional Tensions Reach Catastrophic Levels
Emergency services respond to apparent Israeli airstrike against Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, April 1, 2024 (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran promised revenge against Israel on Tuesday after an apparent Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy complex in the Syrian capital of Damascus. The attack killed 13 people, including General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Zahedi was the most senior IRGC member to be killed since former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani four years ago — marking a major escalation in the already hostile relationship between the two countries.
“The evil Zionist regime will be punished at the hands of our brave men. We will make them regret this crime and the other ones,” said Khamenei on his official website. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), which typically does not admit to strikes on Iranian targets, has declined to admit or deny involvement in the attack.
In response to the Iranian threats however, Israeli officials have temporarily closed 28 embassies and consulates in fear of retaliation, according to The Jerusalem Post on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Iran that Israel will defend itself. The White House stated that U.S. President Joe Biden, in a phone call with Netanyahu, promised that the United States stands strongly with Israel in the face of such threats — despite recent arguments between the two leaders.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have reached an all time high, as Tel Aviv’s assault on Gaza continues to cause global outrage and as the IDF periodically trades fire with Iranian allies in neighboring Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Most potently, Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon have been inching towards full-scale war since October 7, 2023.
A protester in Iran holds a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during an anti-Israeli gathering to condemn killing members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Syria in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 1, 2024.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Analysts are watching Iran’s response closely, as Tehran has several options. One option would be to support attacks by Hezbollah or other regional allies against U.S. or Israeli military installations. Others believe Iran will try to blow up an Israeli embassy, or even attack Israel proper due to the severity or Israel’s airstrike. Tehran could also advance its nuclear program by further enriching its uranium, to the point where it could be used to create a weapon.
Most analysts believe that Iran and its ruling elite would like to avoid a full-scale war with Israel, both directly or through Hezbollah. Monday’s attack however, could force Iran into launching a strong response — as Tehran does not want to appear weak or signal that their deterrence efforts are meaningless.
The attacks come as the war in Gaza has reached a boiling point. Israel has received renewed ostracization this week after a drone strike killed several humanitarian aid workers from the World Food Kitchen — which the IDF admitted was a mistake on Friday.
In response, the United States has threatened to change its policy of unconditional support for Israel, leading Tel Aviv to agree under pressure to open up further aid routes into Gaza. It remains unclear how exactly this will occur.
Peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled for weeks, as the Palestinian group looks to establish a permanent cease-fire while Tel Aviv is only interested in a temporary pause in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 33,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. 75,000 injuries have also been reported.
Iran has stayed sidelined throughout the conflict and has remained surprisingly quiet, despite being a large financial backer of Hamas and a sworn enemy of the state of Israel. Tehran’s involvement in hostilities with Israel have thus far been limited to its proxies.