Following Israel’s attack on Iran’s consulate building in Syria, the big question is how Iran will respond.
For decades, Israel and Iran have been engaged in indirect war, attacking each other on numerous occasions based on a tit-for-tat pattern. But since the start of the Gaza war and Israel’s brutal attacks on Palestinian lands, the conflict between Tel Aviv and Tehran has escalated like never before.
Since October 7, Israel’s air and ground attacks on Palestinian lands have killed more than 32,000 Palestinian men, women, and children. This is indeed the deadliest conflict since 1945 when the Second World War ended.
The unprecedented violence by the Israeli military against Palestinians has also sparked international criticism. Now, even Israel’s most strategic allies, including the US and Canada, are openly warning Israel of the consequences of continuing the war in Gaza.
Ignoring the global demand for peace, Israel has extended its attacks to Lebanon and Syria as well. Tel Aviv believes that by doing so, it is in fact fighting Iran because Israeli leaders claim Iran is supporting Hamas and Hezbollah to carry out attacks against Israel in response to Israel’s strikes against Palestinians.
In one of its latest escalations against Iran, Israeli jet fighters launched 8 missiles to Iran’s consulate building in Syria’s capital of Damascus, killing 7 Iranian military missionaries. Four Syrian citizens were also killed in the strike, a Syrian official said Tuesday.
Iran vowed response, and it will!
Immediately after the attack against Iran’s consulate building in Syria that took place Monday evening, Iranian officials vowed to respond the assault.
“We will make them regretful about the crime and similar acts,” said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, a key decision-making body, also met late on Monday and decided on a “required” response to the strike, Iran’s state television reported.
In a post on X, Khamenei’s political adviser Ali Shamkhani also reacted to the incident and accused Washington of being involved in the attack.
“The United States remains directly responsible whether or not it was aware of the intention to carry out this attack,” he said. The US, however, denied any involvement in the attack.
But whether Israel and the United States accept or refuse to take responsibility for Monday’s attack on Iran’s consulate building in Syria, Tehran has proved it before that it will not leave Israel’s assaults against Iranian interests without response.
The only question is where and when Iran will hit back at Israel. Maybe Israel’s embassy in Abu Dhabi or in Baku will see the same fate as Iran’s consulate in Damascus, time will tell.
