Iranian-backed forces massing around Deir Ezzor city
Israel defense officials believe that Iran is determined to retaliate for the April 9 Israeli airstrike on Syria’s T4 Airbase in which at least 7 Iranian service members were killed, the Israel new outlet Haaretz reported on May 6.
According to the report, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are currently planning the retaliation act. Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian-backed Shiite forces are supposedly involved in these Iranian preparations.
Israeli officials said that the Iranian retaliation could be in a form of missile strike, launched from Syria, on key bases of the Israel Army in northern Israel. The officials believe that the supposed missile strike will be limited, as Iran is not looking to start a war with Israel, according to Haaretz.
The senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on April 10 that the Israeli airstrike on the T4 Airbase “will not remain without a response.”
Haaretz said that the Israeli Army is taking various protective measures against any possible missile fire. Previously, Israeli sources claimed that the Israeli Air Force is planning to strike all the IRGC assets in Syria in a response to any Iranian attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet earlier on May 6 that Iran has delivered advanced weapons to Syria and has warned that Israel is willing to “block Iran’s aggression.”
“We are determined to block Iran’s aggression against us even if this means a struggle. Better now than later … We do not want escalation, but we are prepared for any scenario.” Netanyahu said according to the Israeli news outlet Jerusalem Post.
Some experts say that Haaretz report is a direct warning to Iran that appears to be on the verge of launching an attack against Israel from Syria.
