Former Colonel of Israeli Military Intelligence: Iran Will Attack, It's Just a Matter of Time

After Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the extremist group Hamas, was killed in Tehran on July 31, the Islamic Republic of Iran vowed to take revenge on Israel. Tehran and Hamas accuse Israel of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh; however, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied this allegation so far. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. Reports about Iran's potential retaliatory response and its timing are published almost daily in the media, citing 'informed sources.' This state of 'waiting' and 'concern' has put the region in a state of 'tension.' Colonel Miri Eizin, a retired officer of the Israeli military intelligence and a member of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, assesses this 'waiting' situation as beneficial for Iran. He told Radio Farda: 'When Iran accused Israel of killing a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards and his companions in Damascus on April 1, it took 13 days for them to carry out a retaliatory attack.' Colonel Eizin believes in the threat posed by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, regarding a direct attack on Israel: 'This matter has nothing to do with timing. In this situation, I believe Khamenei's words that we will respond directly. Whether this response will take a week, two weeks, three weeks, or perhaps four weeks depends on them.' He added: 'I believe a direct attack on Israel will occur, and they do not have a significant problem with the timing. Because this situation can help them. A prolonged wait helps Iran, as it means airlines continue to suspend flights to Israel, which bothers Israel. This is how they view the situation. It is not easy for us, but we endure.' On April 15, in retaliation for an airstrike attributed to Israel on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, where several Revolutionary Guards commanders were killed, Tehran targeted Israeli territory with hundreds of missiles and drones. However, that attack caused only minor damage to the Israeli Negev base and injured a Bedouin child. Besides Israel's defense system, the United States and Britain also assisted in intercepting and destroying projectiles fired from Iran. Colonel Miri Eizin discusses the potential targets of the upcoming attack: 'The Iranians now have time. Both Iran and Hezbollah say this. I believe this time they will not settle for just a direct attack. They want to carry out very symbolic actions.' He added: 'Remember that last time they tried to target the Negev airbase because it is where the F-35 fighters are stationed, and they believe those fighters that targeted Iranian military commanders in Damascus took off from this base. This time they say that Mossad operated in Tehran. This means they will target a place where they believe Mossad is present. Therefore, it is likely that instead of an airbase, Tel Aviv will be targeted. This is my prediction.' On July 30, just hours before the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, 'Fouad Shukr,' one of the highest officials of Hezbollah Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Hezbollah has also vowed to take revenge on Israel for the killing of Fouad Shukr, but has not specified the timing. Colonel Miri Eizin speaks of the possibility of simultaneous retaliatory responses from Iran and Hezbollah: 'I believe this time Hezbollah will be a significant part of Iran's retaliatory action. I do not dismiss them because Hezbollah has not yet done anything in response to the killing of Fouad Shukr, so we will have an effective action from the north this time. Hezbollah uses short-range weapons, and Iran uses long-range weapons.