Strategic Earthquake in the Middle East: Israel At War with Iran - These are The Questions Left Open

The strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, the assassination of the IRGC commander, the elimination of top Iranian General Staff officials, and the destruction of missile production sites all point to a coordinated blow against every strategic pillar of Iran's defense and deterrence infrastructure.

There is no turning back from this move. The question the Iranian leadership must now ask itself is this: Are they willing to lose the regime for the sake of the nuclear program?

The key question for Israel going forward is whether its leadership will treat this operation in the same political context as it treats the ongoing campaign in Gaza and Lebanon; or as it approached the swift one in Syria.

That is: will Israel apply its traditional security doctrine of a decisive knockout blow, or will it once again find itself bogged down in prolonged and indecisive engagements?

The brief response from the U.S. President, stating that America remains committed to a diplomatic solution, suggests that Washington has no issue with regime change, but also no issue with an obedient regime crawling back to sign another agreement. Meanwhile Netanyahu’s remarks about the “impending liberation of the Iranian people” may hint at a broader Israeli regional vision. This is further reinforced by recent reports of Iranian plans to destabilize Jordan and Egypt as part of a broader strategy to eliminate Israel through indirect means.

The cannons are still roaring, everything else is speculation. But credit must be given to the Prime Minister and Israel’s military leadership for their courage and the masterful deception that led to this moment.