They are good at the terrorist game but horrendous at the military one. As the worlds biggest state-sponsored terrorist govgernment I would almost welcome a conflict where I know they will get their terror sponsoring arse handed to them and be lucky to be alive after.
You are correct.
When the war actually comes to their land, surrogates will be of no value.
Probably not a good idea to continually threaten somebody who has the means to destroy you AND has had plenty of time to give the retaliation strategy lots of thought and preparation. LOL