Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin, former Israeli Air Force commander, told the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University that Israel has not hit Iran hard enough to bring it to the right point in negotiations, and therefore additional operations cannot be ruled out. He added that the military-strategic reality limits what can be achieved with further bombings, calling for political decisions at a critical crossroads.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin, who led the Israeli Air Force during the period of the 'Operation Rising Lion' strikes and other major operations, delivered his assessment at the Herzliya Conference on Tuesday evening. Norkin argued that the cumulative military pressure on Iran has not yet reached the level required to compel Tehran toward a favorable diplomatic outcome, making further Israeli operations a realistic possibility. However, he cautioned that the military-strategic landscape limits the utility of additional bombing campaigns, emphasizing that Israel now faces a fundamental political-strategic choice. His remarks come amid a broader Israeli security-policy debate. As The Zioneer has reported, former officials including ex-IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot and former INSS head Tamir Heyman have recently pressed the political echelon to clarify strategic goals regarding Iran and the emerging U.S.-Iran framework. Norkin's analysis adds a senior Air Force perspective to that call for political decision-making, framing the current moment as a strategic crossroads rather than a purely military one.
2 developments
- DevelopingFormer IAF chief Eshel: Military success, strategic failure since February
- DevelopingIsraeli commentator: US strikes on Iran insufficient to change 'rules of the game'
- ConfirmedChief of Staff Zamir: Iran's attempt to set equations will fail, strike was preparation for heavier blow
- DevelopingOutgoing IAF equipment chief: sustained high readiness for Iran strike unsustainable
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