US official: Geographical complexities make targeting Iranian nuclear facilities difficult for Israel

A US defense official revealed that targeting Iranian nuclear facilities represents a major challenge for Israel due to the geographical complexities that require advanced air capabilities that the United States possesses primarily.

The official explained in his statements that Israel possesses some of these capabilities, but it will need US support to complete such a mission.

The official indicated that the US Department of Defense provided Israeli military leaders with a comprehensive intelligence assessment on targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. He added that the talks that took place between the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Eric Kurilla, and the Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv, were constructive and focused on the most important plans to respond to the recent Iranian strikes.

The official explained that Iranian nuclear sites are located in geographically distant locations and underground, which makes targeting them one of the most difficult air operations. He stressed that these sites require multiple rounds of air strikes over several days to achieve the desired goals.

The statements came hours after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin contacted his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant, where Austin stressed that the United States maintains critical military capabilities in the region to support Israel and defend its forces. In a statement to CNN, Galant confirmed that Israel is closely coordinating with Washington regarding the response to Iran, but reserves the right to make its own independent decisions regarding how to respond.

Despite the US opposition to a direct strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Galant indicated that Israel has not ruled out any options. In light of the divergence in visions between Tel Aviv and Washington regarding the response to Iran, information from the Pentagon indicated that the expected Israeli response to Iran will be greater than all expectations.

These developments indicate the possibility of escalating tensions in the region, amid Israeli preparations and possible American support, making the coming period crucial in determining the course of escalation between Israel and Iran.