Israeli and U.S. officials anticipate retaliation from Iran following Israeli bombing of Syria consulate

Tensions are escalating between Israel, the U.S., and Iran as intelligence reports suggest that Iran is preparing to retaliate for the Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria. The Israeli strike, which occurred on Monday in Damascus, resulted in the deaths of several senior leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

U.S. officials have received information indicating that Iran is planning a retaliatory attack using Shahed loitering drones and cruise missiles. The timing and target of the attack remain unknown, but officials believe that an Israeli diplomatic facility could be hit as a proportional response to the Damascus attack. The attack is expected to take place before the end of Ramadan next week.

At a public funeral in Tehran for the seven IRGC members killed in the strike, Gen. Hossein Salami warned that Israel would face consequences for assassinating Iranian military officers. The Biden administration has emphasized that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of the Israeli strike and has pledged support to Israel in defending against Iranian threats.

Iran has also issued warnings to the U.S., urging them not to get involved in the conflict. The U.S. has responded by sending a written warning to Iran, cautioning against using the Israeli strike as a pretext to attack American personnel and facilities.

With tensions running high, the possibility of a regional war looms large. The U.S. has troops stationed in Syria and Iraq, and the Iraqi prime minister is scheduled to visit the White House to discuss the U.S. military presence. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community watches with bated breath for the next move in this dangerous game of brinkmanship.