by James Mackenzie
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The scenario of an Iranian attack on Israel, in retaliation for a deadly strike against its consulate in Damascus blamed on the IDF, gained credibility on Friday, with the White House citing a “plausible threat”.
A sign of increased tension, France recommended on Friday to its nationals to “abstain absolutely” from traveling in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories “in the face of the risks of military escalation “.
India and Russia have issued the same recommendations in the face of this threat which adds to the regional repercussions of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has entered its seventh month.
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German airline Lufthansa has extended the suspension of its flights to and from Tehran until April 18.
The Israeli General Staff said Thursday that it had not given new instructions to the civilian population in the event of an Iranian attack, but stressed that Israeli forces were on high alert and prepared for a series of scenarios.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on reports of diplomatic representations partially evacuated or subject to increased security abroad.
“Vengeance will come,” we read in Yedioth Ahronoth, the newspaper with the largest circulation in Israel. “At the moment the assumption is that this will happen very soon, in the coming days.”
The Iranian authorities blame Israel for the air raid carried out on April 1 against the consulate and the residence of the Iranian ambassador in Damascus. An operation which left seven dead in the ranks of the al-Quds Force, an elite unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, including General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a leading official.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution, declared that the Jewish state must “be punished” for this deadly strike, which he likens to a strike on Iranian soil.
NO DIRECT MILITARY CONFRONTATION
“It’s going to be very hard for Iran not to retaliate,” said Raz Zimmt, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a think tank at Tel Aviv University.
“But I still consider that Iran does not want to engage in a direct, large-scale military confrontation against Israel, and certainly not with the United States. But it must do something,” he adds. .
US President Joe Biden said he expected Iran to attack Israel “sooner or later” but called on Tehran not to take action.
“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help Israel defend itself and defeat Iran,” the White House resident told reporters.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday that the hypothesis of an imminent Iranian attack was highly credible, calling it a “plausible threat.”
The spokesperson, who was speaking to journalists, did not elaborate further on the possible modalities and timetable for such action.
According to Iranian sources and American diplomats, the Iranian regime has informed Washington that it intends to avoid any “escalation” and that it will not act hastily.
However, these assurances do not eliminate the risk of a confrontation that gets out of control.
“We are ready to defend ourselves on the ground, in the air, in close cooperation with our partners, and we will know how to respond,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said following a meeting with General Michael Kurilla , which oversees U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
Tehran assimilating the April 1 attack in Damascus as an attack on its territory, the option of a military response from the Iranian army on Israeli territory, and not a proxy like the Lebanese Hezbollah, is a real possibility , judge Raz Zimmt.
“And therefore, the risk of Israeli reprisals against Iran itself, which would be unprecedented, is something that cannot be ruled out,” he said.
Iran has missiles with a range sufficient to reach Israeli territory.
The Israeli army has strengthened its anti-aircraft defense systems and recalled reservists on the ground, on its northern border, in the event that the almost daily clashes with Hezbollah were to intensify.
(French version Sophie Louet)
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