Israel’s new defense minister said Monday the nuclear facilities of the Islamic Republic are now more vulnerable than ever, following Israel’s October 26 airstrikes which targeted Iran’s key air defense systems.
The Israeli air raids last month knocked out Iran's last three Russian-provided S-300 air defense missile systems, Fox News reported on October 30 citing US and Israeli officials. The surface-to-air S-300s were the last in the Islamic Republic's arsenal after one was destroyed in an attack in April also likely carried out by Israel.
“Iran today is more exposed than ever to damage to its nuclear facilities," Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
In late October, US President Joe Biden's adviser for the Middle East Amos Hochstein said in an internal phone call that "Iran is essentially naked", according to Fox News.
Israel carried out the airstrikes in the early hours of October 26 in retaliation for a ballistic missile barrage from Iran on Oct. 1. One Iranian civilian and four military personnel were killed, Iranian media said, and officials have pledged a response.
Threat of Israel’s annihilation
In his Monday remarks, Israel’s defense minister said the vulnerability of Iranian nuclear sites has made it more plausible for Israel “to achieve the most important goal, to thwart and remove the threat of annihilation from hanging over the State of Israel."
Iranian authorities have consistently called for Israel's destruction, and until now, refused to call it anything other than 'the Zionist entity'.
