https://www.timesofisrael.com/though-limited-israels-highly-successful-attack-le...Though limited, Israel’s highly successful attack leaves Iran more vulnerable than ever
With key air defenses disabled and Hezbollah weakened, Tehran knows the IAF could come back for more.
That might prompt it to push for the bomb, and Israel to try to stop it
By Lazar Berman
Today, 2:10 am
Instead, Israel was able to get dozens of planes close enough to Iran to launch precision munitions at military targets in several waves.
Iran knew for weeks an attack was coming, and might even have been tipped off indirectly by Israel about the timing of the strikes. Yet it could do nothing to stop Israeli jets from carrying out their operation deliberately and systematically.
A general view of Tehran after several explosions marked the start of Israeli airstrikes on military targets in the area, early on October 26, 2024. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)
Now Iran — and its gas and nuclear facilities — are more vulnerable than ever. The regime’s most advanced anti-aircraft systems were destroyed, and replacing them — if Russia is even willing or able to do so — will not happen immediately. Its air defenses, which were ineffective on Saturday, are now even less capable with batteries and radars destroyed.
And there remains the ever-pressing question of Iran’s nuclear program. With pressure growing on the regime, and a growing sense of vulnerability, could this be the scenario that pushes Khamenei to order an all-out drive to build a nuclear weapon and present a powerful new deterrent against Israel and the US?
That is certainly possible. But after Saturday’s strike, it is also now more likely that Israel will feel it has the capacity — and the imperative — to cause meaningful damage to that program with a new series of attacks.
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