Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the “recent” Israeli strike against Iran hit “a specific component” related to Iran’s nuclear program. Addressing the Knesset, Netanyahu said the attack degraded Iran’s defenses and its missile production capability.
“It’s not a secret,” Netanyahu said in an address to the Israeli parliament. He conceded that the strike was major, but by no means blocked Iran’s way to the bomb.
In fact, on October 26, a predawn attack by the IDF was characterized as a “response to months of relentless assault from Iran.” An official statement released by the IDF stated, “In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces are conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran.”
Iranian officials, however, played down the damage caused by the airstrike, which, according to them, was limited. Condemning the attack by Israel, Iran said it seeks regional peace and security. The Iranian military said Israeli warplanes used “very light warheads” against border radar systems in Ilam and Khuzestan provinces, and around Tehran.
Analysts have said the Israeli attack is likely to have significantly weakened Iran’s ability both to retaliate and to replace its military supplies in the longer term. Netanyahu warned that Iran continues its pursuit of “a stockpile of nuclear bombs” with which to destroy them, adding: “Iran is working to equip long-range missiles and intercontinental missiles that Iran is trying to develop.
