The operational achievements of Israel's war against Iran did not translate into a genuine strategic victory, because from the perspective of Iran's leadership, Iran did not truly lose. This reality, combined with Iran's understanding that another round with Israel is only a matter of time, is pushing Tehran into a conventional arms race, with a particular focus on rebuilding its missile arsenal.
Half a year after the "Rising Lion" war, it appears that despite Israel's impressive achievements, little has fundamentally changed. Iran is rebuilding its missile array, rehabilitating its nuclear capabilities, and remains unwilling to accept an agreement that would prevent it from enriching uranium on its own soil or limit its nuclear program. Worse still, Tehran is preparing for another confrontation with Israel, seeking to implement the lessons it drew from the previous war. The Iranian regime continues to grapple with complex internal challenges, yet even now there is no opposition that appears to threaten its future.
This week, both Iran and Israel marked six months since the war, a milestone that allows for an assessment of the operation's achievements, which senior Israeli officials have described as a "victory." There is no doubt that Israel achieved highly impressive results in this campaign. Senior figures in Iran's security leadership were eliminated, alongside leading nuclear scientists. The Israeli Air Force achieved full control of Tehran's airspace, enabling it to strike Iran's missile launch systems severely. All of this, of course, made it possible for Israel, together with the US, to inflict serious damage on the enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow, as well as the conversion facility in Isfahan. (Read More)
