Israel prepares for retaliatory strike
The US has appealed to Israel and Iran to not let the conflict escalate further. At the same time it has deployed more fighter jets to the Middle East to boost Israel's protection. The media continue to speculate on how Iran will respond to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The worst case scenario seems likely
People in the region are bracing themselves for the worst, Les Echos explains:
“How far into Israel could Iran and its allies penetrate? ... Could joint attacks overwhelm its exceptional defence capacities? ... How far will Israel be prepared to go in its military response? The worst outcome is never certain. But this time it seems almost probable. From Haifa to Tel Aviv and from Beirut to Tehran, people almost seem to be preparing for what Kyiv has been going through for nigh on two and a half years.”
Hybrid warfare far more effective
The best strategy for Tehran is not a large-scale counterattack, writes the Kremlin-loyal news agency Ria Novosti:
“Iran itself is not interested in a direct confrontation, either with Israel or the US. Why should it want a full-scale war if it can win a hybrid one? Iran's position has only strengthened since 7 October, whereas - despite its most recent operations - Israel's position has become more difficult. That is why its response to the latest events should logically be more of a demonstrative nature.”
Ayatollahs have reason to exercise restraint
The Iranian leadership should think twice before attacking Israel, advises Liberal:
“Israel is historically, morally and politically trained to finish what it has started. And this will also happen in the south of Lebanon. The fate of Gaza serves as an example for those who seek to harm Israel's citizens. Moreover, its operational capabilities at all levels are far superior to those of Iran, while its military command capabilities are a given, as it has an army that is on constant alert. This is what the ayatollahs will pause and reflect on, even if it damages their reputation in the Shiite world.”
Iranian counter-attack would be in Netanyahu's interest
Karar believes Netanyahu will only benefit from a counter-attack:
“If it comes to a war, Iran will suffer enormous damage and Führer Netanyahu will secure plenty of political material for his propaganda about 'defending his country'. That will make people forget his massacre in Gaza.”
Attacks from all sides
The attack could be devastating for Israel, Visão warns:
“Iran wants revenge for the humiliation caused by the assassination of the Hamas leader in its capital. To this end, it has mobilised all the groups that it trains, finances, controls and supplies with weapons. ... In Iran's most recent attack, which took place not long ago, 300 (!) missiles and drones of all categories were deployed. ... Tehran has learned its lesson and, rather than going it alone as before, it is instead trying to confuse the Israeli Defence Forces with strikes from all sides.”
What is Iran capable of?
Večernji list doubts Tehran's attack potential:
“Iran is going through a turbulent phase in domestic politics because a relatively moderate politician has been elected president. With the previous Israeli attack on Damascus in which two members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed, the revenge was on an unprecedented scale, but there were no major consequences for Israel. ... Only a handful of the swarms of drones managed to penetrate the defence perimeter. This raises questions about Iran's and its proxies' capacities.”
Open warfare too risky
The warnings of a regional war are exaggerated, Evrensel believes:
“Iran has a deep-rooted state tradition among the region's oppressive regimes, and is trying to dominate the regional balance of power. It's not so easy for it to risk a regional war, as it is aware that a war with Israel will also be a war with the Western imperialist powers, especially the US. It is precisely for this reason that Iran will prefer to continue its conflict with Israel, which has so far taken the form of 'low-intensity' attrition manoeuvres, at least for the time being.”
Uncontrollable
Aamulehti warns that the situation could spiral out of control:
“A full-scale war against Israel would completely devastate Iran's already struggling economy. Unfortunately, however, no matter how rational the warring powers may be, neither war nor military action can be controlled one hundred percent. A single missile that gets through the air defences could trigger a wider cycle of destruction than expected. ... Wars can be sparked by mistakes and bad decisions, even if neither party wants one. And once a war has started it is difficult to stop.”