Iran has no easy options as it seeks to avenge Syria attack

Iran may be close to launching missile or drone strikes on Israeli targets in response to a deadly attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria last week. Yet how the Islamic Republic retaliates is more complicated than the why.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly said Israel will be "punished" for the assault, which destroyed the consulate building and killed at least 13 people. The risk is that the move could significantly escalate the conflict in the Middle East and put Iran even more in the crosshairs.

The US and its allies believe a major revenge attack is imminent, either by Iran or its various proxies in the region, according to people familiar with the intelligence. Recent history suggests any assault will be measured against what might come next from Iran's adversaries.

When the US killed General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, for example, Iran opted for non-lethal attacks on military bases. In a post to X, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he told Iran's foreign minister in a call Thursday that the country must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.

"I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence," Cameron wrote. "Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks." Israel hasn't claimed responsibility for the Damascus attack, in keeping with its usual response to accusations of targeting Iran, though it has tried to cut off weapons supplies to Islamist militant groups via Syria for years.