Iran warns it will target UK, US and French bases in region if they help defend Israel
How Israel managed to penetrate deep inside Iranpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 13 June
Hugo Bachega[1]Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem
Image source, Getty Images
Thelarge-scale Israeli attacks appeared to have three main objectives:
- DamageIran's nuclear programme
- Degrade its defence capabilities
- And assassinate part of its military and scientific leadership
Thestrategy, which would have been years in the making, seems similar to the oneIsrael successfully applied against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group inLebanon, that was severely weakened in last year's war.[2]
Andjust like it did with Hezbollah, Israel managed to penetrate deep inside Iran.
It had detailed and accurate information about some of the country's topmilitary officials and scientists, while some of the strikes were launched frominside Iranian territory.
Thetiming of the attack may have come as a surprise, but Israeli officials have foryears raised concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, describing it as anexistential threat to Israel.
Iran has consistently denied it is seekingweapons and says its programme is for peaceful purposes.
Inrecent months, however, Israel talked about a unique window of opportunity tostrike Iranian facilities: Iran's air defences had been damaged by Israeliattacks last year and its proxies in the region, part of what Tehran calls theAxis of Resistance, had been degraded, including Hezbollah.
References
- ^ Hugo Bachega (x.com)
- ^ severely weakened in last year's war. (www.bbc.co.uk)