Ex-minister says Israel creates corridor for airstrikes on Iran

Israel's former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed critical insights into the strategic impact of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military assets.

In a recent interview with Washington Post senior columnist David Ignatius, Gallant, currently in the United States, emphasized that the Israeli operations were designed to decisively weaken Iran's defence capabilities and make it unable to retaliate effectively in future conflicts, Caliber.Az reports.

Gallant stated, “The aim of these attacks was simple: after they happened, Iran would be weaker and Israel would be stronger.”

He was referring to the extensive Israeli strikes on October 26, which targeted key components of Iran’s military infrastructure, including air defence systems, missile production facilities, and important radar and anti-aircraft batteries around Tehran. The coordinated raid, involving over 120 Israeli fighter jets, significantly diminished Iran’s ability to protect its territory, as well as its production of fuel for ballistic missiles.

According to Ignatius, the attacks marked a turning point in the ongoing Israel-Iran confrontation. They were a response to the Iranian missile strike on October 1, but their planning had been underway for several months. The raid was intended to leave Iran vulnerable to any future attacks, further shifting the balance of power in the region.

"There is no strategic defense around Tehran anymore," Gallant added, noting that Iranian air defense systems, including the Russian-made S-300 batteries, had been severely damaged.

Gallant’s comments come at a time when U.S. officials are reportedly seeing an opportunity for “coercive diplomacy” with a weakened Iran. As the Islamic Republic struggles to recover from the devastating effects of the Israeli strikes, including significant damage to its ballistic missile production capabilities, Israel and the U.S. are increasing pressure. Gallant explained that, within the next two years, Iran is unlikely to make substantial progress on expanding its missile arsenal, which remains one of the country's significant strategic threats.

Ignatius highlighted that while Israel played a decisive role in crippling Iran’s military strength, the U.S. also played a vital part in deterring Tehran through the deployment of advanced military assets, such as aircraft carriers and submarines, throughout the Middle East.

The Israeli airstrikes, in effect, have created a "corridor" for Israeli aircraft to strike Iranian targets with unprecedented operational freedom. Gallant further underscored that these military actions represent a new phase in Israel’s strategy, one that places Tehran’s military capabilities in a state of unprecedented vulnerability.

By Khagan Isayev