Outgoing defense official: War is a 'resounding strategic failure' on all fronts, toppling Iran via airstrikes 'delusional'

Strategic Assessment and Failure

In a blunt assessment of Israel's multi-front conflict, Brig. Gen. (res.) Dror Shalom stated that the lack of a clear decision in any theater constitutes a major strategic setback. Shalom, who served in his senior defense role throughout most of the war until recently, emphasized that the current trajectory has not yielded the necessary results for national security. His comments echo previous warnings from other former high-ranking officials, such as Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Eshel and MK Gadi Eisenkot, who have similarly pointed to a gap between tactical military successes and the lack of a coherent strategic end-state.

The Iranian Front

Shalom was particularly critical of certain proposed strategies regarding the Islamic Republic. He labeled the idea of toppling the Iranian regime through a combination of airstrikes and support for Kurdish factions as "delusional." This assessment comes amid a period of heightened direct kinetic conflict between Jerusalem and Tehran. While current IDF leadership has emphasized readiness for "deep and heavy" blows against Iran, Shalom’s critique suggests a deep skepticism within parts of the defense establishment regarding the ability of military force alone to achieve regime change.

Hostages and Accountability

Regarding the domestic and humanitarian aspects of the war, Shalom asserted that more hostages could have been brought home earlier. He credited public protests with pushing the United States administration to assist in efforts to return those held in Gaza.

Concluding his remarks, Shalom called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry. He stated his willingness to be the first to testify, insisting that such a probe is essential for both the Palestinian and Iranian fronts to address the failures that led to and sustained the current crisis.