Israel’s unprecedented air campaign over Iran has showcased its aerial supremacy, but experts warn that a decisive strike on Iran’s most fortified nuclear site—Fordow—remains out of reach without U.S. military support.
✈️ Air Superiority Achieved, But Strategic Goals Elusive
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the operation a “game-changer,” with National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi confirming that Israeli pilots can now strike “countless more targets” over Tehran. Since launching Operation Rising Lion, Israeli jets have destroyed dozens of Iranian air defense systems, missile stockpiles, and key infrastructure.
Yet, despite these tactical victories, analysts say Israel lacks the firepower to neutralize deeply buried nuclear facilities like Fordow, located under a mountain and designed to withstand conventional strikes.
🧨 Fordow: Iran’s Last Line of Nuclear Defense
While Israeli warplanes have targeted sites in Natanz and Isfahan, Fordow remains untouched. According to a senior Israeli official, only specialized U.S. bunker-busting munitions—or ground forces—could effectively destroy the site.
🕵️ Covert Ops and Precision Strikes
A regional intelligence source told Reuters that Israel has built a “truly surprising” network of agents inside Iran, enabling astonishingly accurate strikes. However, even with this intelligence edge, Fordow’s location and fortification make it a formidable challenge.
🛑 Trump Vetoes Khamenei Assassination Plan
Two U.S. officials revealed that President Donald Trump recently vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a move Netanyahu hinted could have “ended the conflict”.
🕊️ Diplomatic Deadlock and Military Escalation
While Israel insists Iran is racing toward a nuclear bomb, U.S. intelligence assessments suggest otherwise, estimating Iran is at least three years away from weaponization. Meanwhile, Iran refuses to negotiate under fire, despite mediation efforts by Qatar and Oman.
🚢 U.S. Military Posture Shifts
The USS Nimitz carrier group is reportedly moving toward the Middle East “without delay,” signaling potential U.S. involvement if the conflict escalates.
