1. Experts discuss the potential conflict between Iran and Israel, highlighting the current state of being "already at war".

 

Experts have informed us that a conflict between Iran and Israel in the region would yield no advantages for anyone involved. It is highly probable that such a confrontation would result in a fierce battle that regional forces would actively avoid.

1. Matt McInnis, a senior fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, stated that the Arab states are reluctant to align with either side in the conflict. He also mentioned that Iran is particularly concerned about the possibility of being pulled into the conflict.

McInnis added that Iran is uncertain about the adequacy of Israel's endeavors in recent years to enhance diplomatic and security ties with nations such as Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and others in order to prevent these states from getting involved in a more extensive conflict.

McInnis provided an explanation, stating that the involvement of our bases and other countries in the conflict, as a means to support and defend Israel, is undoubtedly a complex matter. He expressed his belief that the Syrians will align with the Iranians, but he is uncertain about the extent of material support they can offer, apart from the possibility of Iran utilizing Syrian territory for launching attacks.

Biden anticipates that Iran will launch an attack on Israel in the near future.

Tehran has persisted in warning of retaliation against Israel for the assault on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members, including two generals. 

Version 1: Tehran has maintained its stance on taking action against Israel in response to the attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, where seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members, including two generals, lost their lives.

During a press conference on Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that U.S. CENTCOM Gen. Michael Kurilla has expedited his plans and traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. The purpose of their meeting was to evaluate the military readiness in light of the escalating threats posed by Iran.

On Wednesday, November 1, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader, participated in a gathering with a cohort of students in Tehran, Iran. This event was documented by the Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP.

John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council, informed journalists on Friday that the United States is continuously engaging with Israeli officials to ensure their preparedness for potential attacks. However, he declined to publicly speculate or comment on the ongoing conversations or the intelligence information being assessed.

Jonathan Conricus, a previous IDF spokesperson who currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), provided his perspective on the media frenzy, heightened tension, and even a sense of 'minor panic' in Israel regarding the alleged Iranian retaliation following the recent Damascus attack.

1. During an interview on FDD's Morning Brief podcast, he mentioned that Iran possesses numerous options, but he expressed strong confidence in the country's strategic patience.

Conricus stated that they possess discipline, engage in long-term thinking, and refrain from making impulsive decisions driven by emotions, despite the heightened rhetoric.

Gen. Michael Kurilla of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) held discussions with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant in light of escalating tensions with Tehran. (Ariel Hermoni/IMoD). 

Version 1: Against a backdrop of escalating tensions with Tehran, General Michael Kurilla of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) held a meeting with Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Minister of Defense. (Ariel Hermoni/IMoD)

It would not be wise for Iran to launch an attack on Israel, as it would shift attention away from the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and onto Iran's aggressive actions in the Middle East. This would result in Iran becoming the main focus of Israeli and potentially U.S. scrutiny, something the Iranians wish to avoid. This is because it would draw attention to their nuclear ambitions and relieve pressure on Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.

In an interview on the latest installment of "Fox & Friends," Gen. Jack Keane from the Institute for the Study of War (IFSW) expressed his belief that an attack is inevitable due to Iran's inability to escape the global attention surrounding the destruction of the IRGC headquarters in Syria. He emphasized that this is an undeniable fact, but also mentioned that Iran is likely to opt for a restrained reaction and is not genuinely seeking further escalation.

Israel remains vigilant as the threat of an imminent attack from Iran looms, while the US acknowledges the presence of a 'credible' threat from the terror state.

1. Keane proposed that the most effective approach towards Iran would be to eliminate its IRGC assets within the country, as he stated that Iran is not interested in escalating tensions. He pointed out that Iran possesses a "weak air force," "weak navy," and troops that are not highly trained or well-equipped. Instead, he emphasized that Iran heavily depends on its drone and missile capabilities.

Keane emphasized that Iran is aware that engaging in a war would lead to the economic destruction of their regime, resulting in a likely loss. He stated that the leverage has always been on the side of Israel, the United States, and the West, but they adamantly refuse to utilize it.

McInnis concurred with Keane's evaluation, highlighting that the outcome would largely depend on the nature of the conflict. He suggested that in small-scale personnel-driven confrontations, Iran could potentially benefit from the integration of IRGC personnel with proxy forces like Hezbollah in Lebanon.

According to McInnis, if the situation escalated to that point, Iran might have an advantage in smaller scale ground operations compared to previous decades. However, he acknowledged that in the scenario of a prolonged all-out war, Iran's capabilities might not be as effective.

"Bill Roggio, the founder and editor of "The Long War Journal," emphasized Iran's utilization of proxy groups in warfare to maintain a level of response without direct engagement. He highlighted the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel through proxies, indicating that Iran's allies in the region, such as Lebanon and Iraq, hold significant power. Roggio also mentioned that Saudi Arabia prefers not to be at the forefront of the conflict due to previous Iranian drone attacks. Additionally, he pointed out the political and diplomatic interests of Russia and China in Iran, suggesting potential support from these countries to keep the conflict active.