www.understandingwar.org Institute for the Study of War
Israel conducted a two-week air campaign with the objective of degrading, destroying and removing the threat of Iran’s nuclear program.
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Israel's failure to subdue Iran shows it can no longer dictate the regional order
David Hearst
24 June 2025 19:48 BST
Last update: ~18:10 EDTWe also know now that the Germans were worried by the effect the image of the ruined Coventry Cathedral would have on the Americans who were yet to join the war. Indeed, the Germans underestimated the resilience of the British, who forged instead a resolve to hit back as never before. The Royal Air Force began a forceful bombing campaign of Germany shortly afterwards.
It has taken Israel’s high command just 12 days to see the total victory they claimed to have achieved in the first hours of their blitz on Iran turn into something that looks more like a strategic defeat. Hence Israel’s massive reluctance to stick to a ceasefire, after promising US President Donald Trump it would abide by it.
None of Israel’s three war aims have been met. There is no evidence yet that Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme has been “completely and fully obliterated” as Trump claimed.
Iran had time to move at least some of it