The Israeli military is stepping up its campaign to disrupt Iran's nuclear and missile programs, as well as efforts to develop drones, and is actively conducting "covert" operations, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources.
According to the newspaper, Israel has expanded the scope of operations in the past year and is conducting them against "more important targets." Israel recognizes that Iran has made significant progress in producing "weapons-grade" uranium, and is therefore seeking to prevent Tehran from further developing of its own nuclear warheads and missiles, the newspaper noted.
According to the newspaper, since 2017, Israel has carried out more than 400 airstrikes against Iran and its allies in Syria. In particular, the Israeli military has shot down Iran's advanced drones and carried out sabotage and cyberattacks targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and the republic's missile program.
Analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, believe that Israel has failed to "achieve its objectives" because the military has failed to sufficiently thwart Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
Speaking at a session of the Knesset (parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, June 20, Defense Minister of Israel Benny Gantz said that Israel and the US are working to create a "Middle East air defense alliance" that has already prevented Iranian attempts to threaten countries in the region.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
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Based on materials from TASS