Iran Relies On Unconventional Measures To Take Revenge For Its Godfather

After two years of the assassination of the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, Iranians are searching for new ways through which they can take  “revenge” for their godfather. Yesterday, the US announced that it thwarted a drone attack aimed at devastating its military base at the Baghdad airport. What seems interesting in that incident is the written scripts on the wings of drones, which translate to “Leader’s revenge” and “Soleimani’s revenge.”  

Similarly, the Israeli news outlet “The Jerusalem Post” announced yesterday that its website got hacked by pro-Iranian hackers.  Instead of displaying the main news page, the website showed an illustration that appeared to recall top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq on this day in 2020, CNN reveals.  

Iran is sending a clear message to Israel and the US: The Iranians will not tolerate Tel Aviv’s provocations. Yet despite this veneer, Tehran is not as ready as it seems for a military confrontation with Washington and Tel Aviv. Though it seems tough at the bargaining table, Tehran is reluctant to engage in conventional warfare. Soleimani was well aware that Tehran’s military is not strong enough to engage in a direct military confrontation with its regional/ international foes.  

This explains why the “Quds Force” was restructured to meet the demands of the new international order and to participate in the psychological and cyber warfares.    

Hence, in the year ahead, psychological warfare, along with cyber warfare, and guerilla warfare, will only become more valuable for Iranian policymakers. Ironically, however, the results will be more costly for both the Iranian and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as a whole. “The IRGC will not be spared the fallout. This week, at least three of its soldiers died fighting criminal gangs in Sistan and Baluchistan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan,”a news agency in UAE reveals

The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan, ironically, will have a far-reaching impact on the security of Tehran. Add to that, Israel and the US are more likely to keep their “maximum pressure campaign” on Iran. This week, Israel purchased US Military Aircraft worth 1.3 Billion in an attempt to intimidate Tehran. Though we know it is such a silly move aimed at bullying Iran, its timing does not work in the best interest of the US. Tehran will shore up its cyber capabilities to deter Washington and Tel Aviv. Faced with the Israeli threat after the US withdrawal from the Middle East, Iran will rely on all measures to ensure its survival. The outcome of such an unconventional war will definitely be disastrous for our region.