Senior Israeli officials believe that while it may not be possible to completely disable Iran's nuclear program through military action, the goal is to inflict significant damage, particularly by targeting facilities and scientists, in order to set back Tehran's path to a nuclear weapon by several years.
The operation also targets missile-related sites, including production plants and research centers, whose rehabilitation is expected to take time, delaying Iran's broader ambitions to enhance its offensive capabilities.
Based on these objectives, the campaign is expected to continue for at least several more days. For now, Israel is enjoying full backing from the US and open support from leading Western nations. It is also likely receiving quiet encouragement from nearly every country in the region that seeks to weaken Iran.
While Israel is driving this effort, sustaining it over the long term would require US leadership to impose a stringent agreement on Iran, one that significantly curbs both its nuclear and missile programs. Israel aims to play an active role in shaping the terms of any such deal.
Israeli officials estimate that the current military pressure, especially focused on Tehran, will prompt Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to "recalculate his losses" in an effort to quickly resolve the crisis and preserve his regime. This may tempt Israel to prolong the operation in hopes of further weakening the Iranian leadership. However, Israeli leaders are urged to proceed cautiously to avoid getting drawn into a prolonged war of attrition that could exact a heavy toll, physically, diplomatically, and economically.
