Do you remember when a U.S. airstrike in Iraq killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, in early 2020, and that airstrike sparked a tense standoff between Iran and the U.S., and even made the world fear of a third world war. And in the last month of 2023, another airstrike escalated the situation in the Middle East again.
This time, the airstrikes were carried out by Israel, and the target of the airstrikes was Mousavi, Iran's top adviser in Syria. What does it mean that the Iranian president claims that Israel will pay the price, and that this phrase comes out of the mouth of the Iranian Supreme Commander?
Background of air raids
The hostile relationship between Israel and Iran dates back to the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. Before the revolution, the two countries were friendly allies against the hostility of the Arab countries. However, the post-revolutionary Iranian government declared that it did not recognize the legitimacy of Israel, supported the Palestinian armed struggle, and opposed Israeli influence in the Middle East.
Since then, the two countries have been plunged into a state of cold war, striking and destroying each other in various ways. For example, Israel has assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists, sabotaged Iran's nuclear facilities, supported Iran's opposition, and interfered in Iran's diplomatic relations. Iran has also supplied weapons and funds to Allah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, planned terrorist attacks against Israel, threatened to eliminate Israel, and opposed peace agreements between Israel and Arab countries.
The impact of air strikes
The direct impact of this airstrike is the further deterioration of hostile relations between Iran and Israel, and the increase in tension and instability in the Middle East. In an interview with CCTV News, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly condemned Israel's actions, calling them "terrorism and aggression" and saying that "Israel will pay the price." Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Ali Ali also delivered a eulogy, praising Mousavi's exploits and vowing to avenge him.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Katabizadeh said Iran would take "appropriate and necessary measures" in response to Israel's "crimes." These statements suggest that Iran will not let Israel go easily and is likely to retaliate, either militarily or non-militarily. Israel, on the other hand, did not admit positively that it had launched an air strike, but it did not deny it.
In an interview with the media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "Israel will continue to defend its security and interests" and warned that "anyone who threatens Israel will face severe consequences." Israeli Defense Minister Bennett said that "Israel will not allow Iran to build a military base in Syria, nor will it allow Iran to send weapons to Allah and Hamas." These statements show that Israel will not back down from the Iranian threat, but will strengthen its own defense and strike capabilities.
The indirect impact of this air raid is that other countries and forces in the Middle East will also be implicated and affected. For example, the Syrian government and the opposition, neither they want their country to become a battlefield for Iran and Israel, nor do they want their interests to be harmed. The Syrian government has already condemned the Israeli airstrikes, calling them "a violation of Syrian sovereignty" and calling on the international community to put pressure on Israel. The Syrian opposition, on the other hand, fears that Iran will take the opportunity to strengthen its support for the Syrian government and further suppress the opposition's forces.
Consequences of air strikes
The ultimate consequence of this air strike is that the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East region have become more remote and difficult. The conflict between Iran and Israel is not just a matter between two countries, but involves the security and interests of the entire Middle East region. If the confrontation between Iran and Israel escalates, it could trigger a full-scale war, or at least a sustained Cold War.
This is a great disaster for other countries and peoples in the Middle East. They will face more violence and destruction, more refugees and humanitarian crises, more poverty and backwardness, more hatred and division. As far as the international community is concerned, instability and turmoil in the Middle East will also bring enormous challenges and risks to world peace and development. The Middle East is one of the world's energy and transportation routes, the source of the world's religion and culture, and the world's hot spots and crises.
If the Middle East region falls into war and chaos, it will not only affect peace and development in the Middle East, but will also affect the peace and development of the world. Therefore, we should pay attention to and understand the changes and trends in the situation in the Middle East, support and promote dialogue and cooperation in the Middle East, oppose and stop violence and conflict in the Middle East, and contribute our strength to peace and stability in the Middle East.
epilogue
Tensions and crises have erupted again in the Middle East, and Israel's airstrikes on senior Iranian officials have attracted widespread attention. Past history has proven that conflicts in the region have a profound impact on world peace. The incident once again highlighted the region's fragility and raised concerns about the prospects for peace. At this critical juncture, the international community should take active action to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation, so as to create more promising prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East.