Iran Responds to Hezbollah Leader’s Assassination with Missile Barrage, But Concerns Remain

Following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week, Iran has launched a retaliatory missile attack against Israel. The attack, which occurred Tuesday night, saw some 200 ballistic missiles fired, some of which breached Israeli airspace.

The attack came after days of intense Israeli airstrikes and a ground incursion into Lebanon, culminating in the killing of Nasrallah in an airstrike. The assassination of the Hezbollah leader, widely considered Iran’s most powerful regional ally, has dealt a major blow to Tehran’s network of armed groups.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei initially declared that Hezbollah, along with Lebanon, would lead the retaliation. However, many Shiite Muslims in the Middle East and Iran expressed frustration at the lack of immediate action, Bloomberg reports, citing analysts.

This latest attack, while significant, is considered by some observers to be a measured response, similar to the missile salvo launched after the bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus in April. Both attacks were met with strong defenses from Israel, the US, and other allies, resulting in minimal damage.

Concerns remain regarding Iran’s caution in responding to the killings of both Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July. The US and other nations have been attempting to secure a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza for months, without success.

While this missile attack may have been necessary to salvage Khamenei’s reputation and demonstrate Iranian strength, it is unlikely to restore his standing amongst Shiite Muslims. The attack has been met with a mixed response, with many questioning its effectiveness in achieving its stated goals.

Nasrallah’s close relationship with Khamenei had placed the Supreme Leader’s influence in the region at stake, putting significant pressure on him to act.