Former Israeli intel chief Yadlin suggests targeting Iran regime targets
Israel’s ongoing military campaign on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is not just a military escalation, but a strategic shift, according to retired Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin. As the former head of Israeli military intelligence and one of the masterminds behind the legendary 1981 strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor, Yadlin believes that Israel should expand its targets to include not just military facilities, but also political leadership.
Yadlin stated, “Israel took the decision that, on one hand, it’s time to end the leadership of the Axis of Evil — the head of the snake. At the same time, deal with the main problems there. Which is the nuclear.” While he did not specify the duration of the conflict, Yadlin suggested that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) should target regime assets beyond the military level to achieve their objectives.
The aim of the military operation, according to Yadlin, is to force Iran to come to the negotiating table with a weakened position. He expressed hope that Israel’s successful strikes on Iranian air defense systems, ballistic missiles, drones, and regime targets would compel Iran to seek a diplomatic solution with the Trump administration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially denied Israeli involvement in the strikes on Tehran, but President Donald Trump hinted that Israel’s actions could pressure Iran to negotiate. The main sticking point in the negotiations is the U.S.’s demand for Iran to completely halt uranium enrichment, while Iran insists on maintaining enrichment capabilities for its civil nuclear program.
Yadlin believes that the ultimate goal of the military campaign is a stronger agreement than the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which aimed to curb Iran’s nuclear program. He emphasized that the current operation is far more complex than past strikes, such as the 1981 attack on Iraq’s reactor, due to Iran’s dispersed and well-protected facilities.
The recent attack on Iran was the result of years of intelligence gathering and the bravery of Mossad agents on the ground in Iran. Yadlin highlighted the importance of intelligence in enabling efficient operations against the Iranian nuclear program. He also mentioned that Israel’s past preventive strikes were swift and targeted, but the current campaign could last weeks and involve broader objectives.
The operation is framed within the Begin Doctrine, established after the 1981 Osirak strike, which asserts that Israel will not allow hostile regimes in the region to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Yadlin, a symbol of that doctrine, emphasized that the current campaign is unlike anything Israel has undertaken before.
In conclusion, Israel’s military campaign on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure represents a significant strategic shift with broader political implications. The operation, guided by decades of intelligence gathering and the legacy of preemptive action, aims to prevent Iran from obtaining weapons of mass destruction and force the regime to negotiate from a weakened position.
