Sources have informed the Times of Israel that recent events in Syria have presented a strategic opening.
Israeli military officials have revealed to the Times of Israel that the Israeli Air Force is preparing for potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to the outlet, Israeli authorities believe that the jihadist rebels’ unexpected seizure of Syria has diminished Tehran’s regional influence, potentially accelerating Iran’s nuclear program.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have largely neutralized Syrian air defenses, paving the way for potential operations against Iran.
Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes, contradicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that Iran seeks nuclear weapons. In 2015, a deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany imposed monitoring on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief; however, the US withdrew from this agreement in 2018.
Reports indicate that Israel considered striking Iranian nuclear sites following Tehran’s missile attack in October, but these plans were not enacted.
Netanyahu’s government has leveraged the recent Syrian events to significantly degrade its neighbor’s military capabilities, executing one of the largest air force operations in its history. Earlier this week, Israeli jets targeted over 250 sites across Syria, including airports, seaports, air defense and missile systems, military industrial facilities, and warehouses. Israeli forces also advanced beyond the Golan Heights buffer zone, seizing Mount Hermon.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants overthrew Bashar Assad’s government in Syria last week. The jihadist group has yet to fully consolidate its control.
The Times of Israel reports that Israel believes Iran is isolated following Assad’s removal and that its key regional ally, Hezbollah in Lebanon, has been substantially weakened by the recent IDF offensive. This situation, according to the Times of Israel, could prompt Iran to accelerate its nuclear program and create an opportune moment for a preemptive Israeli strike.