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VISTORBELITUNG.COM,In a stark warning that underscores the ongoing shadow war between the two Middle Eastern rivals, a former high-ranking Israeli military official has declared that Israel will act to prevent Iran from reconstructing its critical defense and strategic infrastructures, and is prepared to launch new strikes if necessary.
The statement comes in the aftermath of a significant, though largely undeclared, 12-day conflict in June between Israel and Iran, which involved a series of covert operations, cyberattacks, and aerial bombardments. While never formally acknowledged by all parties, security analysts believe the exchanges targeted Iranian-backed militias in Syria, key Iranian military advisors, and, crucially, sites inside Iran itself linked to its air defense, missile, and nuclear programs.
According to the retired Israeli general, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, the June campaign set back Tehran's military capabilities significantly. However, Israeli intelligence now assesses that Iran is actively working to restore and even enhance these systems.
"Our objective was clear: to degrade capabilities that pose an existential threat not only to Israel but to the entire region," the ex-general stated. "We achieved that goal for the window of the conflict. But the moment we see Tehran moving to rebuild its integrated air defense network, advance its precision-guided missile project, or cross clear lines in its nuclear program, we will not hesitate. We are ready to strike again to preserve our security red lines."
The Stakes: Air Defenses, Missiles, and Nuclear Ambitions
The three areas highlighted air defense, missile infrastructure, and nuclear facilities represent the triad of Israeli security concerns:
1. Air Defense Systems: Iran has been attempting to deploy advanced air defense systems, including Russian-made S-300s and domestically developed Bavar-373, across the region, particularly in Syria. For Israel, which relies on aerial freedom of operation for intelligence and strikes, a robust Iranian air defense network on its borders is unacceptable.
2. Missile Infrastructures: Iran's vast arsenal of ballistic missiles and its program to develop precision-guided munitions (PGMs) capable of hitting specific targets from great distances is a top priority for Israeli military planners. The transfer of such technology to proxies like Hezbollah is considered a "game-changer" that Israel has vowed to stop.
3. Nuclear Facilities: Despite the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) and current negotiations, Israel views any advancement in Iran's nuclear fuel cycle, especially enrichment levels and stockpiles, as a direct path to weapons capability. The alleged Israeli sabotage of the Natanz enrichment site in 2021 is a precedent for such actions.
A Strategy of Persistent Pressure
The former general's comments reflect Israel's long-stated and actively implemented policy of the "campaign between wars" (MABAM) a continuous effort to thwart Iranian entrenchment through covert and sometimes overt military action without triggering a full-scale war.
"This isn't about a one-time operation," a Tel Aviv-based security analyst commented. "It's about maintaining constant pressure and enforcing a ceiling on Iranian power projection. The message is: 'Your retaliation in June was absorbed, but your strategic rebuild will not be tolerated.'
The warning arrives at a delicate geopolitical moment, with stalled nuclear talks and escalating tensions between Iran and the West. Israel's posture underscores its willingness to act unilaterally, even as the United States, its key ally, focuses on great-power competition and seeks to avoid new large-scale conflicts in the Middle East.
The threat of renewed Israeli strikes raises the risk of miscalculation. A direct attack on Iranian soil could force Tehran into a more overt and massive response than the proxy-led attacks it has often favored, potentially sparking a broader regional conflagration.
As Iran patches up the damage from the June conflict and accelerates its military research and development, the stage appears set for another cycle of action and reaction. The words of the Israeli ex-General serve as a blunt reminder that in the tense quiet after the storm, the next confrontation may already be in the planning stages. The world watches to see if diplomacy can lower the temperature, or if the long-running shadow war is destined to flare once again into the open.