Iran s response is the worst scenario that Israel fears
Ramallah – North-Press Agency
Ahmad Ismail
The Israeli military analyst Eyal Alima has said that regardless of the nature of the Iranian response and its reprisal for the assassination of the commander of the Quds Force, Major General Qasem Soleimani, Israel's greatest concern is that this response will lead to a series of developments and scenarios that would lead Tal Aviv into a confrontation with the Islamic Republic, as a result of widening battle space in the area.
Alima explained in an interview with North-Press that regardless of Israel’s exclusion from the Iranian initial response, the most prominent question that worries the Israeli and American security services in the meantime is: "Would the Iranian response affect American figures in the region? Who would they be?"
Alima admitted that it is not clear how Iran would respond, adding that perhaps Tehran will choose the method and content of response according to its assessment that it is sufficient and appropriate, but without dragging the region into a wider battle.
In fact, he believes that the greatest danger in the issue of the Iranian response is that some military and security analyzes and assessments are incorrect. "Trump may have decided to assassinate Soleimani, after the American intelligence services excluded the war scenario after the assassination, but the American side may be mistaken in assessing the intentions of the other side," Alima added. Therefore, the Israeli military analyst believes that the greatest fear is that the Iranian response would be followed by a series of developments; for example, Iran's response may lead America to commit a "counter-response", especially since President Trump has threatened to hit 52 targets inside the Islamic Republic of Iran if the latter targeted the Americans. This means, according Alima: "The worst case scenario" must be prepared for by Israel, regardless of whether it will necessarily happen or not.
In the meantime, the Israeli "Cabinet" is holding a session today to discuss the latest developments in the region and the state of alert on the northern front following the U.S. assassination of Quds Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, near Baghdad airport at Friday dawn.
On the other hand, the head of the political bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh, and his deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation from the Movement's leaders, have arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on an official visit. While informed sources said that the visit will include participation in the funeral of the commander of Qods Force in the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Qasem Soleimani.
Other members of the Movement are included in the delegation's membership, as the delegation is expected to meet the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Republic, Ali Khamenei, and the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Sources indicated that the funeral will be attended by the leader of the Islamic Jihad Movement Ziyad Nahleh and his deputy, Akram Ajuri.
It is noteworthy that Haniyeh started a tour beginning with a visit to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, and it is the first since he headed the political office of Hamas Movement in May 2017.