Following an extensive Israeli air operation, Iran’s missile production and air defenses are reportedly devastated, leaving it vulnerable to further strikes.
By Pesach Benson, TPS
Israeli attacks on Iranian military sites on Saturday apparently destroyed its ability to produce ballistic missiles and left the country unprotected after its air defense systems were severely damaged.
“Let’s say it – it was a phenomenal operation with Israeli air jets operating for three hours in the sky of Iran,” Professor Uzi Rabi, senior lecturer at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and a senior researcher at the Center for Iranian Studies, both at Tel Aviv University, told The Press Service of Israel.
“You don’t usually see operations like this ending with no injuries at all. Here the jets and their personnel came back to Israel in exactly the same way they went to Iran. It means Iran’s air defense has been effectively eliminated,” Rabi explained.
Referring to the specific sites that were attacked during the strike, Rabi stated, “Israel has taken from Iran the capability to produce ballistic missiles, and maybe drones too. It was a very hard blow.”
The attack leaves Iran unprotected for future strikes, Rabi concluded. “Israel has demonstrated its super capabilities, and Iran had nothing to react with. It understands the game and tries to sound as if nothing happened, because acknowledging the weakness will make Iranian people turn against the regime. And Israel does not want to emphasize the achievements, because it wants to leave Iran an opportunity not to react.’
However, Israel should go further and “attack the nuclear program or even try to change the regime in the country,” Rabi insisted. He said he is hopeful this will be possible after the US presidential elections. Americans go to the polls on November 5.
Israel struck Iran in retaliation for Tehran’s October 1 barrage. Iran fired more than 180 missiles, claiming it was in response to the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in September.
Iran also launched more than 320 drones and missiles at Israel in April.