New targets appear to indicate an expansion of Israel’s war aims beyond the Iranian nuclear facilities that consumed the first days of the conflict.

According to IDF assessments, Iran began the current conflict with approximately 2,000 ballistic missiles of varying ranges and warhead types.

The missile and air war that Israel and Iran have spent decades planning for has come, and it is spectacular and terrifying. Israeli officials say they need at least two weeks to degrade Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

The most frightening scenario, considering the strategy Israel has employed in Lebanon, would be a series of attacks targeting lower-level figures, which could escalate to higher-level figures depending on the response or lack thereof, creating an even more frightening scenario than the current one.

After such a devastating attack from Israel, Iran’s leaders see no choice but to fight back. Any sign of weakness would severely undermine the regime’s legitimacy at home.

Looking ahead, the IDF warned that Iran’s damaged nuclear facilities could take months or even longer to repair.

Experts suggest the U.S. has a strategic opportunity to leverage Iran's weakened position for a nuclear deal after Israel's targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites.

Benjamin Netanyahu has been making the argument that Israel faces existential threat if Iran gets a nuclear bomb for many years.