Well color me skeptical but, for decades we know what Iran and Syria's intention is towards Israel and for sure that falls clearly into the barely legal category. I respect Israels attitude towards taking no shite from these players, Israel has the balls to do what pussy whipped Western Democracy's routinely fail to do in protecting their citizens, I consider Israel to be the only democracy in the Middle East.
True.
But legally "knowing the intentions" does not fit the prerequisites for "self defense". Defending yourself against a mere "intention" is rather meager.
You may have the intention to rob a bank for instance.
Ok, at what stage are you?
Thinking about it?
Planing?
Getting equipped?
In your car and on your way there?
All of these actions are carried out with "intent", but the level of "intention" shifts form very low to very high.
In this case, we don't know what Israel knew about the meeting. At best it would could be treated as a preemptive strike.
Had Israel retaliated while Iran was carrying its massive strike last night,
that would have been self defense, because Israel was under clear and present imminent danger. The missiles were in the air and heading towards Israel, it was clear Iran's actions were motivated by "intentions" and the content of these "intentions" were very clear as well.
I am all in favor of Israel's actions, though sometimes they can appear a bit reckless, and its inherent and absolute right to defend itself. But words have meanings and so far I don't know what, in that strike against the Iranian consulate annexes, constitutes "self defense".
Have the targets been involved been involved in some way, shape or form in the events of October 7, then ok, go for unaliving them. But that would be a "retaliation", not "self defense".
Semantic is boring, but it is crucial.