Israeli attack on Iran consulate meant to spark retaliation: Report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The Responsible Statecraft
5 Apr 2024 22:34
6 Shares

"Israel's" actions are specifically intended to provoke a retaliation from Iran, which would potentially drag the US into the conflict.

Iranian demonstrators burn a representation of the Israeli flag as one of them waves their country's flag during an annual rally to mark Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, to support the Palestinians in Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP)

An opinion piece published by The Responsible Statecraft on Friday detailed the realities behind "Israel's" deliberate attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

According to writer Paul Pillar, "Israel's" actions are specifically intended to provoke retaliation from Iran, which would potentially drag the US into the conflict.

The piece also examines the broader implications of a potential conflict between "Israel" and Iran for regional stability and US interests, warning of grave consequences of a full-scale war, including human and material costs, economic disruptions, and increased hostility towards the US abroad.

Pillar also critiques the traditional US-"Israel" alliance and calls for a more strategic approach that prioritizes long-term stability and peace in the region over unquestioning support for "Israel's" actions.

The aggression, which occurred on April 1, claimed the lives of seven high-rank IRGC advisors. Among the martyrs was Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who made significant contributions to the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi blamed the US and "Israel" for the aggression. However, the US dismissed the accusation, saying it had "no involvement" in the attack.

Axios reported that shortly before "Israel" launched the strike on the consulate, it informed the Biden administration without asking for a US green light.

Not only did "Israel" not include any details in its heads-up to the US, like sharing that it was going to bomb a building in the Iranian embassy compound, but the Israeli occupation jets were also already in the air when that piece of information was received by the US, according to the Axios report.

Earlier today, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the martyrs who died in the aggression were of great value to the Lebanese resistance, "especially Brigadier-General Zahedi for his great offerings to the Resistance in Lebanon over many years."

He further said that "the Iranian response to the [bombing] of the Iranian consulate is coming without a doubt."