Although Israel did neither confirm nor deny any involvement in the assassination of Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Iran’s Capital, Tehran, Iran and Hamas, as well as all of their political and military allies, blamed Israel for doing it and vowed to revanche. They haven't any other choice because they all were profoundly disgraced and disgracing themselves. Israel and its allies must take into account that the retaliations of Iran, Hamas, and Hamas's allies against Israel will soon happen and will be stronger than ever before. The US and other Israel allies are now already hurrying up to deploy their troops and weapons around the Middle East region to help Israel deal with new security threats.
The final and fatal effect will certainly be more hate and conflict, more military attacks against each other between Israel and its archenemies in the Middle East, in the Gulf region, and in North Africa. Peace and reconciliation among them is more far away than before. That would also mean that Hamas is no longer interested in and ready to enter negotiations with Israel on a cease-fire or on ending the war in Gaza. Iran would be forced to be directly involved more than before in direct military confrontation with Israel. Hamas will firmly continue to fight against Israel in Gaza and from Gaza. Lebanon's Hezbollah will conduct more heavy military strikes against Israel from Lebanon. So do Shi-it militant groups and Yemen's Houthi rebels. Israel has to defend and fight on more than one front at the same time. Regional peace is more far away but regional war is now closer than ever before. The present situation is no involved sides really want peace talks, cease-fires, and de-escalation.
So consequential was the assassinations of the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders by Israel. By doing so, Israel could think it was victorious but it couldn't eliminate both Hamas and Hezbollah. On the contrary, it would make them stronger and more determined to challenge Israel and fight against Israel. It makes only any reconciliation attempts impossible. The US and Israel's allies bear responsibilities, too, because they backed and are backing Israel. As long as they continue to back Israel, Israel will still be ready to overstep new "Red lines", deliberately and without any hesitation.
Therefore, restraints and careful calculations are demanded from all involved sides. Only one single wrong act or one step too far and too hasty would be more than enough to push the whole region into deadly catastrophes.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by Ambassador Tran Duc Mau are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Hanoi Times.
