Israel reportedly prepares to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities
This screen grab taken from a handout video released by the Israeli government press office shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attending a meeting in the command center of the defense ministry in Tel Aviv on October 26, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Israel is preparing to launch strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities following the disabling of Syria’s air defense systems, according to a report by Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel.
Israeli army reportedly believes that recent developments, including the weakening of Iranian proxy groups in the Middle East and the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, have created a strategic opportunity to target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The report indicates that the Israeli Air Force has intensified preparations for potential strikes.
Israeli airstrikes target Syria
Over 85% of Syria’s air defense systems have reportedly been destroyed during recent Israeli strikes, granting Israeli aircraft and drones air superiority in the region.
Meawnhile, earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps strongly condemned “the abuse of the current instability in Syria by the U.S. and the Zionist regime,” referring to Israel.
The Israeli army assesses that with Iran increasingly isolated due to Assad’s regime collapse and the diminished influence of Hezbollah, Tehran may accelerate its nuclear program in an attempt to develop a nuclear bomb as a replacement deterrent.
On October 1, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, but the attack proved largely ineffective. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation and did not rule out strikes on Iran’s oil fields or nuclear facilities.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly working to persuade Israel to refrain from such actions, aiming to avoid further escalation in the region.
