US officials believe that in response to the recent raid on Israeli territory by Iran, Israel will target Iranian proxy forces and soldiers abroad instead of directly attacking Iran. The raid, which took place on April 13 with over 300 missiles and drones, was in retaliation for an attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed 7 IRGC officials. Discussions between Washington and Tel Aviv revealed Israel’s response scenarios, ranging from no military action to a direct attack on Iranian territory.
After the raid did not result in Israeli casualties or major infrastructure damage, US officials predict that Israel will likely choose a softer response by targeting Iranian proxy forces or soldiers stationed abroad. One possible option is to attack targets in Syrian territory related to Iran, such as weapons depots or storage facilities for military equipment.
While Israel has not yet finalized its response plan, they have indicated that they will definitely retaliate against Iran. However, they aim to avoid sparking conflict in the Middle East and maintain coordination with the US. The US government has not been informed of Israel’s final decision or the timeline for their response following the raid.
Israel’s war cabinet has met twice but has not yet made a decision on how or when to respond to Iran. Despite pressures to refrain from retaliating, Israel is considering all options and intends to send a strong message to Iran through their response. Coordination with Washington and avoiding escalation in the region are key considerations for Israel moving forward.