The US and Israel hit five oil sites in and near the Iranian capital Tehran. (Photo: ATTA KENARE / AFP)
According to the Israeli military (IDF), Iran’s strategy is aimed at destroying Israel and undermining Western ideas in the Middle East.
A military spokesperson of the IDF made these statements during a media meeting on Monday and added that over the years Iran has supported several terrorist groups in the region financially and militarily.
“Iran funded Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist groups. What these groups did was funded by Iran,” he said.
According to him, Israel has carried out several operations against these groups since the Hamas attacks on October 7, but the core of the conflict lies with the Iranian regime itself.
“Getting to the head of the snake means targeting the Iranian regime,” he said.
The spokesman said Iran’s military strategy rests on three pillars: the destruction of Israel, the expansion of a missile program, and the development of nuclear weapons.
He says Iran is rapidly expanding its military capabilities. “Iran is not giving up its nuclear program. They are rebuilding it and accelerating their ballistic missile program,” he said.
According to the IDF, Iran is working to develop thousands of ballistic missiles that can reach the entire Middle East and pose a significant threat to the Gulf region.
The spokesperson says that Israel has therefore started a military operation together with the USA to neutralize a “bomb waiting to go off”.
The conflict continues. Smoke rises from Beirut after an Israeli airstrike. (Photo: IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP
Civilians first priority
The spokesperson emphasized during a question and answer session that according to him Israel does everything possible to protect civilians during military operations.
“Many attacks were even canceled to protect civilian lives,” he said.
According to him, certain attacks are pre-reviewed by international legal experts before they are carried out.
He also said that militant groups often deliberately place military infrastructure near civilian areas.
“They (Iran) are putting ballistic missile factories under houses. We first try to evacuate people before we act,” he said.
The spokesman says that Israel’s actions are not directed against the people of Iran.
“Our war is not against Iran’s people, but against terrorist regimes,” he said.