Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper stated that Iran is likely to retaliate against Israel for a recent missile strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus, Syria. The strike resulted in the death of senior Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, a Lebanese security source identified them as the responsible party. In response, an Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment on foreign media reports.
Esper, in an interview on CNN, predicted that Iran would take action against Israel but on a limited scale to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East. He mentioned that Iran would act to maintain credibility with its proxies in the region and satisfy hardliners within the theocracy. However, he also noted that Iran would likely avoid escalating the situation to prevent a major conflict with Israel and the United States.
