Raz Zimmit, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Israel, shares his perspective on the reasons driving Iran’s recent assault on Israel.
According to reports by NewsNow, Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones towards Israel as a retaliation to the Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1, resulting in the death of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members and military advisors by Israeli forces.
Zimmit elaborated that Iran, known as one of the most heavily armed nations in the Middle East, reached a tipping point following the attack on its consulate by Israel.
The decision to retaliate follows Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s clear stance over the past six months of the conflict in Gaza, emphasizing Iran’s reluctance to be dragged into a broader confrontation.
The loss of Iran’s senior commander in Syria marked the highest-ranking officer casualty since the US eliminated Qassem Suleimani, the leader of the Quds force, in Iraq in 2020.
“The Iranians reached a threshold where they deemed it necessary to respond. They undertook a calculated risk, reasoning that failing to act against Israel after the attack would undermine Iran’s deterrent capabilities,” Zimmit commented on the situation.