Israel's Defensive Strategies: A Detailed Look at the Iran Threat

Israel’s attack on Iran has exposed critical weaknesses in Tehran’s broader military strategy . While Iran still has untapped shorter-range capabilities it could deploy in its immediate neighbourhood, its depleted medium-range missile arsenal and weakened regional allies leave it with limited options for retaliation against Israel . Last night, the government of Israel decided to roll the dice on a military solution to Iran ’s decades-long pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. Given the remarkable capabilities of the Israel Defense Forces, the operation could do tremendous damage to the Iranian nuclear program. Israel and its allies have successfully defended against Iran ’s missile attacks thus far, but it has required an extraordinary level of cooperation, and the challenge is likely to only get. Israel ’ s precise preemptive strike on Iranian nuclear and military targets, named Operation Rising Lion, is a decisive response to the escalating and imminent threat posed by the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons ambitions and regional aggression. Following the October 7 Hamas massacre, Israel is conducting a broad military campaign targeting Iranian-backed terror networks, addressing escalating threats from multiple fronts and unprecedented regional instability. Going forward, Israel now faces critical decisions regarding three main components of Iran ’ s hostile strategy : Its nuclear program, its plans to resurrect the proxy network, and its missile program. Operating with limited resources against multiple threats , Israel must carefully weigh its effort. The Israelis’ strategy encompasses decisive offensive operations to defeat and remove Hamas. For decades, Israel has used military force to deter countries like Iran , as well as armed groups like Hezbollah, from acting against Israel’s aims in the region. How do these recent strikes fit within Israel’s broader strategy – and how far is the escalation likely to go? For years, Israel contained its conflicts with Tehran, Hamas and Hezbollah. The broad assault on Iran highlights a shift in strategy .