Iran ‘Ready and Impatient to Confront the Zionist Regime’

The Fellowship  |  January 23, 2019

The launching of a missile from Syria into Israel was Iran’s latest threat against the Jewish state, coming after the IDF struck military targets set up by the Islamic Republic in Syria for the sole purpose of targeting Israel. Writing at JNS, Dr. Shimon Shapira, who served as a general in the IDF and as Military-Secretary to the Prime Minister, warns that Iran is taking these risks in its fight against Israel in order to achieve its stated goal to “eliminate it from the Earth”:

The significance of firing the missile during the day was that it was clear to the Qods Force that there were hundreds of Israeli tourists visiting the area and a ski resort.

This attack indicated Iran’s readiness to ratchet up the level of violence and take greater risks of a strong Israeli reaction, thereby leading to a military deterioration with Israel. If reports that some of the targets attacked by Israel were close to the Qods Force command building in the Damascus region are true, from the viewpoint of Iran, it can no longer tolerate Israeli attacks. This is certainly the case after the end of Israel’s ambiguous policy of claiming the military actions and its readiness to take direct responsibility for attacks on Iranian targets in Syria.

Therefore, it would seem that at this stage, we are facing a new strategic situation with regard to Israel’s dealing with Iran in Syria. At its foundation lies the risk that Iran, through the Qods Force, will intensify its reactions to Israeli attacks on Syria and is even prepared to enter into a limited conflict with Israel.

By no coincidence, the Iranian press released this statement by Iran’s Air Force commander Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh: “The young people in the air force are fully ready and impatient to confront the Zionist regime and eliminate it from the Earth.”