Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has made controversial statements declaring that the overthrow of the Iranian government is still considered Israel's "main goal." These statements come at a time when Netanyahu finds himself on the brink of national elections next week and facing declining support in polls.
Experts' Analysis on Israel's Military Capability
Military experts and analysts have pointed out that Israel has no clear strategy for converting military strikes into a strategic outcome like the overthrow of the Iranian government. They believe that airstrikes alone cannot achieve such a goal and that a ground invasion is necessary, which would require a much broader military commitment.
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Challenges Facing Israel and Iran
Analysts also emphasize that any new attack on Iran would mean confronting a country that has already experienced attacks twice and still has the capability to respond to Israel and neighboring Gulf countries. Furthermore, Washington's support for a new attack on Iran is also shrouded in ambiguity, and experts doubt America's willingness to re-enter the war.
Netanyahu previously acknowledged the limitations of Israel's air power in March, stating, "This cannot be done solely from the air." He also emphasized that a ground component must be present in this operation, but did not provide details about its form and scale.
Urban Cunningham, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in Britain, pointed out that intelligence networks may lead to information leaks in the future, and armed Kurdish or Baloch groups also lack the capability to challenge the Iranian government. Experts believe that Iran still possesses significant missile reserves, which could increase the costs of any new attack.
Overall, analysts consider it unlikely that Israel can achieve its goal of overthrowing the Iranian government without the support and cooperation of the United States. While Netanyahu seeks to garner support ahead of the elections, operational and political challenges remain before him and Israel.
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