The French newspaper "Le Monde" stated that Iran faces a "strategic dilemma" as retaliation for the strike it suffered in Damascus threatens to provoke an open conflict with Israel and escalate a broader regional confrontation. The report noted that the incident represents a "heavy blow" to Iran. Amid these developments, analyst Hamid Reza Azizi from the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik research institute in Berlin pointed out that Israel's targeting of the Iranian consulate in Damascus left Tehran with no choice but to respond, rendering previous rules of engagement outdated.
The newspaper added that "since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza on October 7, Iran has refrained from direct engagement, allowing its allies to confront Israel independently." It further stated that "failure to respond threatens to undermine Tehran's reputation within this alliance and weaken its deterrence against Israel, potentially exposing its officials to further attacks."
"Le Monde" asserted that "the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus sets a dangerous precedent in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran." Experts viewed the attack as a response to an alleged attempt to target a ship at the port of Eilat, southern Israel, claimed by the Iraqi militia al-Nujaba, which has close ties to Iran. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari mentioned that "the drone used in the Eilat attack was manufactured in Iran and guided by Iran."
Regarding the Damascus strike, Hagari declined to comment on reports from foreign media. The newspaper concluded that "the attack highlights the rising tensions between Israel and Iran and the unstable regional dynamics, with potential implications for the stability of the Middle East."
