Zahedi coordinated the anti-Israel, anti-Western Axis of Resistance, which includes Arab militants and Iran-backed groups. Tehran backs Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, all of which have attacked Israel directly or cited resistance in recent months.
A senior administration official and a senior defense official worry that Israel may retaliate to Iran's strikes without considering the fallout.
The Biden administration is concerned about Netanyahu and senior Israeli leaders' approach to Israel's battle against Hamas and the Damascus strike. U.S. officials privately expressed anger with Israel's decision to hit the Iranian embassy in Syria, saying Israeli leaders did not consider the timing and repercussions, especially how it would affect Hamas prisoner negotiations.
The senior administration official stated, “I don't think they had a strategy.” “The Israelis don't always make strategically sound choices.”
“There's this urgency to act,” the official continued, “and that happened in Damascus.” The official said it's the same frustration U.S. officials have with Israel's Gaza policy.
The defense officer agreed, saying the Israelis are stronger at operations than planning. “They have surprised us with their really short-sided planning for the past few months, so Damascus isn't as surprising,” the defense official added.
It is possible that hostile nation states will wage war against the United States, as stated by the senior administration official.
This would result in an escalation of the conflict between Iran and Israel and would also destabilize the Middle East.
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