Despite a series of tweets from Iranian.....>

MIDEAST: Despite a series of tweets from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah

Khamenei criticising Israel and calling for the "defence" of Palestinians,

followed by a swift rebuttal from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu saying that "any

any regime that threatens Israel with extermination will find itself in similar

danger", a severe ratcheting up of Middle Eastern tensions is unlikely.

- US, German, and EU foreign officials have all condemned Iran's threats.

- Actors operating supposedly on behalf of both Iran and Israel have launched a

series of cyberattacks on infrastructure installations, businesses, and websites

in both nations recent weeks.

- The Ayatollah's volley of tweets coincides with Iran's annual marking of Quds

Day ('Jerusalem Day'), used yearly as an opportunity for the Iranian gov't to

hold anti-Israel rallies. 

- This week also marks the 20th anniversary of withdrawal of the IDF from

southern Lebanon after 15yrs of conflict against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

- As such, the escalating rhetoric is likely being used to play to a domestic

audience, rather than indicating an imminent threat of violence.