After the attack on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, Iran is threatening Israel with retaliation. No Israeli embassy anywhere in the world is safe, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Khamenei said.
An adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that Israeli embassies around the world could become targets of retaliatory attacks. “The (anti-Israel) Resistance Front is ready for all possible retaliation scenarios and no Israeli embassy around the world is safe from them,” said former Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRCG) commander General Yahya Rahim Safavi, according to state broadcaster Al-Alam.
For this reason, Israel had “closed 27 embassies as of yesterday out of fear,” claimed Rahim Safavi. He cited the Israeli representations in Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain and Turkey as examples. After his time in the IRGC, the 66-year-old no longer had any political influence in the country. However, conservative media in Iran often like to cite him for his anti-Israel rhetoric.
Rahim Safavi explained that the leadership in Tehran sees confrontation with Israel as a “legitimate and legal right.” The semi-state news agency Isna published a graphic showing nine different types of Iranian missiles, all of which are said to be capable of reaching targets in Israel.
Counterattack feared after attack in Damascus
At least 13 people were killed in air strikes on the consular building in Syria’s capital Damascus on Monday, including two generals and five officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Iran, Syria and Russia blamed Israel for the attack.
Since the attack, there have been fears of an Iranian retaliation against targets in Israel or its ally the USA. However, observers consider an Iranian attack on Israeli embassies to be rather unlikely. The government of President Ebrahim Raisi has so far distanced itself from this option. An Iranian attack on Israeli or US positions and facilities via pro-Iranian militias such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen is more likely.
Israel and USA in Alert
Israel has not yet directly claimed responsibility for the airstrike, but says it is preparing for a possible Iranian response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that his country was prepared for any response. “Whoever hurts us or intends to hurt us, we will hurt them,” he said in a cabinet meeting.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also sees the country as prepared for any developments in dealing with Iran. According to his ministry, Gallant said after an “operational assessment” with senior military officers that preparations for any scenario that could arise with Iran have been completed.
Like Israel, the US is on high alert in the face of Iran’s threats. According to an insider, the US is preparing for possible retaliation by Iran against Israeli or American facilities. The USA is Israel’s closest ally; the Iranian leadership sees both states as bitter enemies.