Striking targets in at least three nations this weekend, Israel escalated conflict with Iran (without actually bombing Iran). Two factors are at play here: Iranian efforts to attack Israeli territory and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s electoral interest in appearing resolute.

The new Israeli action is significant. In Syria, Israeli warplanes killed two members of the Lebanese Hezbollah. Israel says the individuals were supporting an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plot to launch explosive-laden drones into Israel. The Israelis say that the specific Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps unit responsible was the Quds Force, led by Qassem Soleimani. If true, the Quds Force was likely using Hezbollah as a deniable proxy to avoid direct links between the plot and Tehran.