Israel Targets Iran’s Nuclear Sites and Regime in Bold Escalation, Says Ex-IDF Intel Chief

Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure signals a bold escalation, with retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, a key figure in the 1981 Osirak strike, urging a focus on both military and political targets. "It’s time to cut off the head of the snake," Yadlin declared, pointing to Iran’s regime as the core of the so-called Axis of Evil. He emphasized that this operation, unlike the surgical strikes of the past, could stretch over weeks, targeting not just nuclear facilities but potentially regime leadership to weaken Tehran’s resolve.

Yadlin, a veteran of Israel’s preemptive Begin Doctrine, highlighted the complexity of this campaign. Iran’s nuclear sites are now dispersed, buried deep, and heavily fortified, a far cry from the single-target Osirak reactor he helped destroy. "This is not 1981," he noted, crediting years of Mossad intelligence and daring operations—like luring Iranian commanders into a bunker for a devastating strike—for enabling Israel’s current push. Yet, he cautioned, some sites may be nearly indestructible.

The operation aims for a political endgame: a stronger nuclear agreement than the 2015 deal, one that fully blocks Iran’s path to a bomb. Yadlin suggested that degrading Iran’s air defenses, missile capabilities, and even regime targets could force Tehran to negotiate from a weaker position, especially under pressure from the incoming Trump administration. President Trump has hinted at hoping Israel’s strikes will push Iran toward concessions, while the U.S. denies direct involvement.

Israel’s campaign reflects a broader strategy, building on its legacy of decisive preemption, as seen in the 1981 and 2007 strikes against Iraq and Syria. But Yadlin warned, "You never know when a war is finished." This high-stakes gamble could reshape the region—or ignite a wider conflict.