Iran’s retaliatory operations would extend to KSA, Dubai: Expert

CAIRO – 8 January 2020: Following the US assassination of Iran’s Top General Qasem Soleimani, experts' views on the type of escalation to be launched by Iran varied, with some ignoring Tehran’s military ruling out scenarios about a massive war between both powers.

Although the Tuesday missile attack launched by Iran on US bases in Iraq did not result in any American losses, some experts found it an indication of a comprehensive war that would extend to other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia.

Samir Gharib, the head of the Arab Institution for Security and Strategic Studies, said that the Iranian-American current would take a “special line,” expecting that Iran will hit precise US targets “clearly and directly.”

Gharib also expected that the escalation by Iran could include the assassination of US figures whether on US or foreign soils.

According to Gharib, the Iranian response will not be easy, “because the killing of Qasem Soleimani was not a simple incident; he is deemed a legendary figure in Iran,” ensuring that “the response will be from Iran and not through proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon or Syria.”

Regarding the expected Iranian retaliatory operations in the future, Gharib said that Iran would use its proxies to target the infrastructure of large countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Emirati city of Dubai. He further expected that Iran would support the Houthis with advanced weapons to achieve its targets.

On Tuesday, Iran fired more than a dozen of ballistic missiles against two US airbases in Iraq, where the US and coalition forces are based. The missiles were reportedly launched from Iran.

There were no immediate reports of casualties at the bases.