An Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus suspected of assassinating an Iranian commander required on-site intelligence from local agents, an Israeli security analyst and a former CIA agent said.

Iranian officials said Mohammad Reza Zahedi was killed along with several other senior military officials and diplomats by a long-range missile fired by an F-35 fighter jet, and promised harsh retaliation against Israel, the alleged perpetrator. .

Israel has not commented on the incident, in line with its longstanding policy of ambiguity regarding attacks in Syria. Israel is believed to have carried out numerous attacks against Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria.

this New York Times The report said Israel took responsibility for the Damascus attack and cited official military sources denying that the building had protected diplomatic status.

Yoni Ben Menachem, an Israeli security analyst with close ties to the defense establishment, said the operation appeared to rely on local informants.

“I think it was accurate information from agents on the ground who made sure this guy was in the building and then gave the green light for the planes to attack the building with rockets,” he said.

“Before we assassinate someone, we don’t just rely on electronics – we make sure he’s in the right place and have an agent physically see him to make sure there are no mistakes.”

Ken Katzman, a former CIA analyst who now studies the Middle East at the Soufan Group think tank, agrees that Syrian sources are crucial.

“Israel has been gathering intelligence on the location of Iranian commanders… who have allies and various assets inside Damascus,” he said. “This is not something that was dreamed up yesterday and it takes a lot of planning to know when these people will be working. This is a long-term project”.

Katzman said the attack on the consulate building did not mark a new approach by Israel but a “pretty significant escalation” from previous practices.

He said Israel has been attacking Iranian targets in the Middle East for years, but Zahedi was one of the most senior officials killed. Attacking consulates is also new territory.

The attack came after another Iranian commander was killed, Saeed Radi MousaviIn December, Israel launched a suspected attack on Syria as part of a surge in apparent assassinations of Iranian military officials during the Gaza war.

Israeli Defense Minister Yov Galante, warned yesterday Israel’s readiness to “act every day and everywhere to prevent the concentration of our enemies” demonstrates Israel’s willingness to launch attacks across the region.

Katzman said the attack may have been designed in part to sow insecurity among leaders in Iran and its allies as they worry about who might be next.