(Telegraph-UK) Jotam Confino - Israel's air force and navy are estimated to have destroyed around 80% of the Syrian army's equipment since Islamist rebels seized Damascus last Sunday, including air defense systems that may have been used to protect Iran against any attack. Assad's collapse, combined with the fact that Iran is already weakened by the systematic dismantling of its proxy Hizbullah in Lebanon, has opened a unique window of opportunity for Israel to strike, a senior Israeli official told the Telegraph. "Iran is at its weakest and lowest point in 30 years. All the terrorist organizations it funded and built have fallen one after another. This is the time to strike a blow that will destabilize the regime of evil and terror in Tehran," the official said. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has long called for Iran's nuclear program to be stopped in its tracks. Yair Lapid, Israel's opposition leader and former prime minister, said he agreed with Netanyahu's desire to hit Tehran's nuclear capabilities. "The Iranian nuclear program is not only a threat to Israel; it is a threat to world peace and a risk to global security. Israel needs to work together with its allies to thwart the threat in every possible way, including bombing nuclear facilities," Lapid told the Telegraph. Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, a former national security advisor, said Israel should "hugely accelerate" its plans for an attack. "Hizbullah was the deterrence against Israel. And I think [their weakening] is very important for the future decision [on Iran] by Israel," he said. Amnon Sofrin, the former head of Mossad's intelligence directorate, agreed that now would be an opportune time to attack.
2024-12-15 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive