Israeli Defense Minister Hints at Retaliatory Attacks in Iran and Iraq

Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, stated that his country has responded to attacks against it "in Iraq, Yemen, and Iran." According to Reuters, Gallant told Israeli lawmakers on Tuesday, December 26, that the country is engaged in a "multi-front" war and has been targeted from "Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea and Samaria (West Bank), Iraq, Yemen, and Iran," and that they have acted and responded in six of these seven fronts. Since the onset of hostilities following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, the Israeli military has reported conducting significant retaliatory actions in Lebanon and Syria; however, there have been no reports regarding attacks in Yemen or Iraq, where Iran-aligned militias have launched drones or missiles toward Israel. Israel has also not reported any operations within Iran. However, recently, gas stations across Iran suddenly went offline, which some media attributed to an "Israeli cyberattack." Iranian officials have not taken a clear stance on this matter. On Monday, December 25, the highest-ranking commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria, named Razi Mousavi, was killed in an airstrike near Damascus. It has been reported that after the killing of Qassem Soleimani, he was the highest-ranking member of the Revolutionary Guards killed outside Iran. Israel's attacks on Gaza began following the terrorist attack by Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the hostage-taking of about 240 individuals, most of whom were civilians. Following this, Israel besieged the Gaza Strip and commenced air and then ground operations aimed at destroying Hamas. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Hamidreza Azizi: Israel's killing of Seyed Razi sends a message that it still has deterrent capabilities against Iran. Alireza Nourizadeh: Finding and killing "Seyed Razi" is a significant blow to the Islamic Republic. Attack on a Russian ship suspected of carrying Iranian drones; the Ukrainian army: We used cruise missiles. The killing of a senior commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Israel's attack on the outskirts of Damascus in Syria. Developments following the killing of a senior member of the Revolutionary Guards in Syria; Israel prepares for a retaliatory attack against the Islamic Republic. The Iraqi army: Following the "terrorist" drone attack, activities at Erbil airport have been suspended.