Will the Islamic Republic Act on its Threats against Israel?

Iranwire – After Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei denied any involvement of the Islamic Republic in the unprecedented attack by the Hamas terrorist group on Israel, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian threatened an “expansion of war fronts” if Israeli forces launch a ground assault in Gaza. 

The question of whether the Islamic Republic is bluffing remains open to interpretation, and only time will reveal the true intentions and capabilities of the Iranian government.

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During a visit to Lebanon, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a meeting with a representative of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. 

He warned that if Israel continues to bombard Gaza and the conflict escalates on the ground, Iranian-backed militias in the region will be ready to engage in battle.

While in Beirut, Amir-Abdollahian also met with Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah. Following their meeting, Nasrallah expressed readiness for any eventuality. 

In the second week of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic Republic shifted from a defensive stance toward making explicit threats. 

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that time is running out for political solutions, and the likelihood of the war expanding to new fronts is increasing.

In Qatar, where Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas political office, lives, Amir-Abdollahian warned Washington that an intensification of the conflict would have significant consequences for the United States. 

In recent days, Iranian-backed militia groups have also openly threatened Israel.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to these threats by telling Iran and Hezbollah: “Don’t try us, you will be severely harmed.”

Addressing the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu said his country was ready to fight its enemies both in the north, referring to the border with Lebanon, and in the south, in the Gaza Strip.

Mehdi Fazaeli, an official from Ali Khamenei’s office, wrote an article in which emphasized that Palestinian fighters, unlike in the past, are now equipped with missiles and drones, and “display unwavering determination.”

This current situation somewhat resembles the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel’s Arab neighbors expected swift victory but faced Israeli occupation.

The pivotal question remains whether the Iranian government will act on its threats. 

In January 2020, the Islamic Republic announced it would “avenge” the death of its general Qassem Soleimani in a US drone strike near Baghdad.

Days after the assassination, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a series of missile attacks on facilities in Iraq housing US military personnel.