But Iran’s strategy underestimated how Israel would respond to the Hamas terrorist attack of Oct. 7 and subsequent cross-border rocket fire from Hezbollah. “Israeli intelligence has restored their aura of deterrence," Hoffman said. However, Yahyah Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, is believed to be alive and hiding in tunnels that Israeli forces have not yet seized. The successful Israeli operations have also forced Iran and Hezbollah to face a vexing question: how and when to retaliate without suffering yet more setbacks? As long as Israeli attacks continue, Hezbollah’s decision-making will be in disarray, but the militia remains a significant force.

---

Persons: Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, “, ”, Bruce Hoffman, Hoffman, Mohammed Hamoud, Yahyah Sinwar, Matthew Savill, Savill, ” Glenn Corn, Ezzedine, Majdi, Nasrallah, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Karim Sadjadpour, ” Sadjadpour, Marc Polymeropoulos, Rabih Daher, Benjamin Netanyahu, Corn, “ Who’s, Norman Roule, ” Roule Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, “, Royal United Services Institute, Defense Ministry, CIA, Institute, Infrastructure Technology, Hamas, Getty, West, Carnegie Endowment, International, Israel, Lebanese Armed Forces, United, Nuclear Locations: Iran, U.S, Tehran, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Israel, Sana'a, Iranian, Hodeida, Lebanon, London, Gaza City, ”, Lebanese, Mahmudiyah, AFP, Beirut, Nuclear Iran