A former Israeli intelligence official has alerted CNN to the “high possibility” that Iran could use militia groups in Iraq to retaliate against Israel following recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military sites.
Miri Eisen, a former colonel in Israeli military intelligence and now a fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, explained that this strategy would allow Iran to strike back while avoiding direct blame. She emphasized that Iraqi militias are more accessible than Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is currently in a vulnerable situation.
Recent report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy show that Israel has been facing a rise in drone attacks from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. However, there’s been “very little evidence” of successful hits on Israeli targets, mainly due to interception measures.
An Israeli military source confirmed that the country is on “high alert” for a potential Iranian response and is still analyzing Iran’s decision-making to determine if and when retaliation might happen.
Furthermore, CNN reported that a senior Iranian source stated that Iran intends to deliver a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s attack on October 25. Although no specific timing was mentioned, it was suggested that it could occur before the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
