Tehran – As Iranian military leaders continue to deny the possibility of external attacks on their armed forces, Israel’s recent military actions and technological advancements reveal significant weaknesses in the Islamic Republic’s defense capabilities.
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Force, claimed this week that ‘the enemy does not possess the ability to strike the Islamic Republic’s offensive array.’ Speaking before an official consultative committee, he dismissed recent threats against Iran as ‘baseless,’ asserting Tehran’s military posture is unassailable and growing in superiority compared to its adversaries. The highly publicized statement comes at a time when Iran seeks to project strength in the face of mounting pressures on multiple fronts, including international sanctions, proxy conflicts, and domestic unrest.
Yet, recent events tell a starkly different story. Israel, which has faced years of attacks and provocations by Iranian-backed groups, has dramatically increased its operational tempo across the region following the October 7, 2023, massacre orchestrated by Hamas—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. Many of these attacks, carried out alongside Iranian proxies including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Islamic Jihad, have been met with robust military responses by Israel, targeting critical Iranian defense infrastructure in Syria, Iraq, and, according to credible reports, within Iran itself.
Israel’s focus has extended beyond immediate border threats. In recent years, the Jewish state has developed and implemented sophisticated cyber warfare campaigns attributed to the IDF’s elite intelligence units, as well as long-range precision strikes that have damaged or destroyed crucial elements of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Infrastructure such as electric grids, water pumping stations, and missile battery command systems has reportedly suffered outages or sabotage, occasionally leaving Iranian officials and engineers with little ability to diagnose or even comprehend the sources of these failures. This growing sense of vulnerability is noted among Iranian security experts and has been acknowledged in off-the-record admissions by regime insiders.
These operations accomplish more than immediate tactical objectives. They deliver a powerful psychological message, reinforcing Israel’s technological edge and strategic reach against adversaries that threaten its existence. Israeli military spokespeople and key international allies, including the United States, consistently emphasize that Israel’s responses are measures of self-defense in a protracted war imposed by Iran and its regional terror network.
At the same time, everyday Iranians are feeling the real-world consequences of these operations. With critical infrastructure plagued by failures—sometimes attributed to cyberattack, power outages, or unexplained sabotage—public trust in the regime’s reassurances is increasingly strained. Commentators within Iran have begun to voice skepticism over the disconnect between government assertions of invulnerability and the growing evidence of infiltration and disruption.
While Iranian commanders attempt to project an image of unity and preparedness, Israel continues to degrade elements of Tehran’s command and control structure. Reports of the IRGC’s air defense units being rendered inoperative, and senior officials left uncertain of how these penetrations occurred, illustrate a changing strategic landscape. Israel’s intelligence-led approach also fosters deep mistrust and suspicion within Iranian security ranks, further destabilizing the regime’s grip.
Regionally, this posture has broader implications. Iran’s campaign to arm and support groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah—giving rise to what is known as the ‘axis of resistance’—is widely seen by Western and Arab governments as a central source of instability. The proven ability of Israeli security services to disrupt advanced weapons transfers and degrade hostile military networks has prompted renewed calls for more robust international efforts to deter Iran’s malign activities and rein in its proxies.
The broader picture is one of divergence between rhetoric and reality. While top officials in Tehran assert that Israel and the ‘enemy’ can do little to harm the regime’s capabilities, recent military history shows that Israel’s strategic patience and technological prowess have repeatedly forced Tehran onto the defensive. For the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the campaign to counter Iran and its regional clients remains existential, underpinned by the lesson that deterrence is best maintained through demonstrable capabilities rather than rhetorical bluster.
The impact on Iran’s general population is also non-negligible. Widespread infrastructure failures resulting from suspected sabotage undermine the regime’s credibility, erode public morale, and fuel discontent. As disruptions increase, so too does the pressure on Iranian leaders to defend their claims of impenetrability. Israeli intelligence, meanwhile, continues to prioritize the neutralization of threats and expansion of deterrent measures, especially in light of the sophisticated means employed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its expansionist agenda.
In conclusion, the gap between Iran’s official statements and the demonstrable facts on the ground is widening. Israel, facing a coordinated campaign of violence organized by Iranian-backed terror proxies, has systematically exposed and exploited vulnerabilities in the regime’s offensive and defensive systems. Its ongoing campaign underscores the shifting balance of power in the Middle East—and highlights, for global audiences, the enduring stakes of Israel’s struggle for survival and the complex realities of modern asymmetric warfare.
