Delayed response: Iran’s calculated approach to retaliation raises global concerns Bloomberg

Iran or a number of pro-Iranian groups could strike infrastructure near the city of Haifa to avoid Israeli civilian casualties and to send a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without provoking a full-scale regional war.

Two weeks after Iran vowed to retaliate for the killing of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the world remains on edge as the expected attack has yet to occur, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

Western officials caution that the threat is far from over, with Iranian proxies in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen potentially planning strikes at any moment.

The Israeli military is on high alert, with forces positioned strategically and a command bunker activated beneath the Jerusalem hills.

Amid diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions, concerns grow over the possibility of a more complex and damaging assault, potentially involving multiple fronts. As cease-fire talks in Qatar approach, the region remains tense, with the potential for significant escalation if Iran’s response materializes.

Western analysts emphasize that Iran must carefully balance its actions to avoid a devastating Israeli or US counterattack, while still asserting its strength.

The situation remains fluid, with the possibility that Iran could choose to delay or even forgo retaliation, depending on the outcome of ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

Tensions in the Middle East have sharply escalated following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 and the killing of Fuad Shukr, a commander of Hezbollah's military wing, in Beirut. Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for these incidents and vowed to retaliate.