Israel’s military campaign in Iran has been hailed as a resounding success by experts tracking the conflict, attributing the achievements to years of preparation, innovation on the battlefield, and intelligence development. Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described Israel’s progress as a \”domination\” of the Iranian military, citing the elimination of senior military leaders, the Iranian Air Force, and a significant portion of missile launchers and ballistic inventory.
Despite Iran’s retaliatory attacks, including a missile strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintain the upper hand tactically and strategically. With over 600 aerial refuelings in the Middle Eastern skies since the conflict began, the IDF’s control over Iranian airspace is impressive.
Hilla Hadad-Chmelnik, a strategist at the \”Mind Israel\” think tank, emphasized that Israel’s success is the result of years of preparation in various aspects, from long-range strike capabilities to intelligence gathering. Drawing on lessons learned from previous conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, the IDF has refined its operational doctrines to effectively combat Iran.
The use of defensive systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling has proven crucial in intercepting Iranian missile salvos with over 90% effectiveness, despite the unprecedented scale of attacks. The IDF’s ability to neutralize rocket launchers quickly has been a key strategy in minimizing the impact of incoming missiles.
While significant gains have been made, the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility remains a critical target. Dubowitz stressed the importance of dismantling Fordow to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear capabilities. He outlined three potential paths for achieving this goal, including diplomatic agreements or targeted military interventions.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Hadad-Chmelnik believes that Israel’s success creates an opportunity for the United States to join the conflict and contribute to the dismantling of Fordow. She highlighted the potential for decisive success with most of Iran’s assets already degraded.
Dubowitz also noted that Israel’s offensive has targeted Iran’s internal security infrastructure, which could pave the way for future domestic unrest. By striking the regime’s tools of repression, Israel may create space for Iranians to protest against the government.
As the conflict progresses, there is cautious optimism that this may be a historic opportunity to end Iran’s nuclear threat and support the Iranian people in reclaiming their future. However, the ultimate success hinges on the dismantling of Fordow, which could be a defining moment in the campaign.
Efrat Lachter, an investigative reporter and war correspondent, reflected on the achievements of the IDF with hope for a positive outcome. She emphasized the importance of continued pressure on Iran to ensure lasting peace and security in the region.
