Despite the Middle East bracing for a promised Iranian strike against Israel, former CIA Director and CENTCOm Director David Petraeus says he doesn’t expect a full-scale war to result from an attack.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened Israel following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, although Israel has not claimed responsibility for the killing of the Hamas leader.
Petraeus said the killing was a “huge intelligence failure and… a security failure,” He added, “They have to respond. But I don’t think that Iran wants to get into a real direct back-and-forth war with Israel… And frankly, I don’t think Israel wants to get in a real full-on war with Hezbollah or with Iran.”
Petraeus added that damage would be “very very substantial” to both sides if there were a full war.
Petraeus said there was a “full menu” of options, including two major strikes from Iran and Hezbollah targeting military sites or essential infrastructure.
