Analysis: US and Israel Underestimated Iran's Military Capabilities Seven Weeks Into War
Seven weeks after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran, analyst Mark Almond argues that Western powers significantly underestimated Tehran's military resilience. While intelligence accurately located Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, it failed to assess the full scale of Iran's missile and drone arsenals or the whereabouts of lower-level military commanders. Contrary to Mossad director David Barnea’s predictions that airstrikes would incite regime change, the bombardment has reportedly rallied Iranians behind their government, following a brutal crackdown on previous protests. Iran has retaliated by attacking pro-Western Gulf States and threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating its ability to cause global chaos without nuclear weapons. With President Donald Trump’s scheduled ceasefire nearing its end, the conflict has evolved beyond initial objectives, driven by the Islamic Republic’s priority for survival. The article highlights that while US air power has devastated targets, it has not eliminated Iran's capacity to launch rockets, leaving Washington facing unplanned consequences and urgent need for renewed peace talks to prevent further economic and human devastation.
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Analysis: US and Israel Underestimated Iran's Military Capabilities Seven Weeks Into War
Seven weeks after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran, analyst Mark Almond argues that Western powers significantly underestimated Tehran's military resilience. While intelligence accurately located Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, it failed to assess the full scale of Iran's missile and drone arsenals or the whereabouts of lower-level military commanders. Contrary to Mossad director David Barnea’s predictions that airstrikes would incite regime change, the bombardment has reportedly rallied Iranians behind their government, following a brutal crackdown on previous protests. Iran has retaliated by attacking pro-Western Gulf States and threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrating its ability to cause global chaos without nuclear weapons. With President Donald Trump’s scheduled ceasefire nearing its end, the conflict has evolved beyond initial objectives, driven by the Islamic Republic’s priority for survival. The article highlights that while US air power has devastated targets, it has not eliminated Iran's capacity to launch rockets, leaving Washington facing unplanned consequences and urgent need for renewed peace talks to prevent further economic and human devastation.
Articles | Mail Online