Iran's intensive and focused activity to hit Israeli targets aims to avenge the attacks on its people on Iranian soil, which it attributes to Israel, and moreover, to create an equation of deterrence against Israel through the use of terrorism in the international arena.
Iran renewed its efforts to carry out terrorist activities against Israeli targets abroad, following the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November 2020. Since then, Iran has made at least 13 unsuccessful attempts in various countries in Africa, Asia, South America, the Gulf, and Europe.
Unlike in the past, when Iran and Hezbollah acted together with a division of labor – with Hezbollah acting against Israeli tourists abroad and Iran focusing on attacks on official representatives and delegations – this time, as far as is known, Iran acts against everyone on its own or through local aides, and apparently did not call Hezbollah to help it realize its intentions.
The shake-up at the helm of the Revolutionary Guards intelligence system indicates frustration and dissatisfaction with the results of Iran's revenge campaign, and it remains to be seen whether this will have an effect on their operational efficiency.
It can be posited, with the requisite caution, that Iran will not give up its revenge and deterrence efforts vis-à-vis Israel abroad and may also work to implement them through the other tools it has developed over the years to attack Israel within its territory as well.
Iran's intensive and focused activity to hit Israeli targets aims to avenge the attacks on its people on Iranian soil, which it attributes to Israel, and moreover, to create an equation of deterrence against Israel through the use of terrorism in the international arena.
Iran renewed its efforts to carry out terrorist activities against Israeli targets abroad, following the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November 2020. Since then, Iran has made at least 13 unsuccessful attempts in various countries in Africa, Asia, South America, the Gulf, and Europe.
Unlike in the past, when Iran and Hezbollah acted together with a division of labor – with Hezbollah acting against Israeli tourists abroad and Iran focusing on attacks on official representatives and delegations – this time, as far as is known, Iran acts against everyone on its own or through local aides, and apparently did not call Hezbollah to help it realize its intentions.
The shake-up at the helm of the Revolutionary Guards intelligence system indicates frustration and dissatisfaction with the results of Iran's revenge campaign, and it remains to be seen whether this will have an effect on their operational efficiency.
It can be posited, with the requisite caution, that Iran will not give up its revenge and deterrence efforts vis-à-vis Israel abroad and may also work to implement them through the other tools it has developed over the years to attack Israel within its territory as well.