1. Efraim Inbar, President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies (JISS) think tank
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Efraim Inbar, President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies:
"Definitely there is a course of collision between Israel and Iran, particularly since the two sides are determined to continue and attain their goals. The Iranians want to establish a military presence that is threatening Israel, while Israel at the same time is trying to prevent - with the use of force - the establishment of such a presence."
3. Cutaway to JISS website
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Efraim Inbar, President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies:
"The Iranians will have to decide what they want to do in Syria. It is clear that Israel is determined to prevent an additional missile arsenal being accumulated in Syria, and it seems also that the Russians are actually allowing Israel a free hand. Under those circumstances it remains to be seen what kind of response we'll see from the Iranians."
5. Cutaway to screen
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Efraim Inbar, President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies:
"After (US) President Trump removed the American participation in the JCPOA, the (Iran) nuclear deal, the Iranian hand is weaker. They are afraid, maybe, of an American intervention. In any case, following Trump's decision, Israel's deterrence seems to be enhanced."
Israel and Iran are on a collision course but it remains to be seen whether the recent confrontation between the countries will spiral into a more protracted battle, an Israeli Middle East expert said on Thursday.
Efraim Inbar, president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies, said Israel and Iran have conflicting aims in Syria, meaning they are bound to continue to clash.
"The Iranians want to establish a military presence that is threatening Israel, while Israel at the same time is trying to prevent - with the use of force - the establishment of such a presence," Inbar said.
The Israeli military on Thursday said it attacked nearly all of Iran's military installations in neighbouring Syria in response to an Iranian rocket barrage on Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights.
It is the most serious military confrontation between the two bitter enemies to date.
But it's unclear what the Iranian response to Israel's retaliation will be.
Inbar said US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the Iran nuclear deal has weakened Iran and has strengthened Israel's power of deterrence.
Iran's ability to hit back further could be limited.
Its resources in Syria pale in comparison to the high-tech Israeli military and it could also be wary of military entanglement at a time when it is trying to salvage the international nuclear deal.
Iran has sent thousands of troops to back Syrian President Bashar Assad, and Israel fears that as the fighting nears an end, Iran and tens of thousands of Shiite militiamen will turn their focus to Israel.
