The Israeli newspaper Maariv addressed the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East between Iran on one side and the United States and the Israeli occupation entity on the other, raising questions over whether US President Donald Trump may soon order a military strike. The paper noted that Iran would respond by targeting “Israel” should it come under attack.
The newspaper quoted Brig. Gen. (Res.) Zvika Haimovich, former commander of the Israeli military’s air defense array, who acknowledged that Iran’s capabilities have expanded significantly in recent months.
“The reality is far more complex,” Haimovich said. “We are not alone in this arena. There is another actor, and I would fundamentally advise against underestimating our adversaries—especially in the missile domain and the new aerial space. In this sphere, the Iranians constitute a kind of great power.”
Iran’s Capabilities Remain Intact
Haimovich addressed the Israeli enemy’s current state of readiness, describing it as a race between two opposing sides. “Over the past seven to eight months, Israel has not stood idly by waiting for the next round, which was clearly coming—it was only a matter of time. I said this back in June. Iran has not disappeared from the map. Its threat and intentions remain. We have inflicted significant damage on its capabilities, but that damage never amounts to zero.”
He noted that Iran has refocused heavily on missile production. “After the war, they realized that if there is one element that provided them with answers—even after 15 years—it is the missile world. That is why they returned to missile manufacturing. These are less accurate missiles, but they still possess precision-guided missiles as well.”
According to Haimovich, Iran’s overall missile stockpile remains largely unchanged. “When all the data is taken together, the large mass of missiles that existed before the war still exists today. The core challenge is dealing with this mass. Therefore, I believe that what we saw in June, in terms of scale, could recur at similar levels.”
Strategic Objectives
Haimovich also assessed Iran’s current missile inventory and its strategic goals. “In my estimation, they possess roughly the same quantity, although their launch capability has been somewhat impaired. We ultimately targeted launch sites and mobile platforms. We have seen their abilities—they can launch limited salvos ranging from Haifa to Beersheba, with the aim of paralyzing as many civilians as possible and disrupting daily life.”
He concluded by highlighting the range of Iranian options. “Will they choose this time to strike populated areas rather than strategic sites, making the attacks more localized? From the Iranian perspective, there are many possible scenarios for what they seek to achieve in this confrontation.”
Source: Al-Ahed News (Edited and translated by Al-Manar News Website)