IDF chief on Israel’s attack in Iran: ‘We have the ability to do much more’

The head of the Israel Defense Forces has said Israel restrained itself in its weekend attack on Iran, in comments published Sunday, as the country girds for a possible response from Tehran.

In a video released Sunday, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi was seen telling other officials that the hours-long bombardment of military sites across Iran early Saturday had struck “strategic systems.”

“We drew upon only some of our abilities,” Halevi said in the clip, part of a meeting in which top brass assessed the results of the assault, a retaliation for Iran’s massive Oct. 1 ballistic missile barrage on Israel. “We have the ability to do much more.”

“We hit strategic systems in Iran… and we will see how things develop now. We are ready for all scenarios on all fronts,” he added.

Israel has indicated it has no wish for further escalation, but that it could take more aggressive action if Iran once again launches an attack on its territory. It is widely reported to have considered hitting Iranian oil sites — key to the country’s struggling economy — but to have been dissuaded by the Biden administration from hitting such sensitive targets.

Halevi said the strike on military targets had been a “clear message.”

“We know how to reach and hit any threat, in any place, at any time.”

The unprecedented strike, undertaken in response to the Islamic Republic’s missile barrage on Israel four weeks ago, saw IAF warplanes roam freely above Iranian skies and target strategic military sites.

The IDF said the air force specifically targeted drone and ballistic missile manufacturing and launch sites, as well as air defense batteries, adding that the operation was in response to “months of continuous attacks from the Iranian regime against the State of Israel.”

Reports on Sunday indicated that Israel was gearing up for an expected Iranian response to the assault, even as Tehran remained ambiguous about escalating the conflict.

Channel 13 news reported Sunday that Iran had had missiles prepared for launch at Israel as the attack was underway, but decided against using them. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is still weighing his options regarding a response, which may include terror attacks outside Israel, the report said.

Israel’s targeting of Iranian air defenses in the strike — reportedly Russian S-300 batteries — appears to have left the country far more open to further attacks, if it should launch another direct barrage on the Jewish state.

The Channel 13 report added that the Islamic Republic considers its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah to now be largely ineffective, after being battered by Israel over the past month, so a drone strike executed by the terror group would not achieve a significant result.

While visiting families of Iranian soldiers killed in the attack Sunday, Khamenei said, “There’s no need to exaggerate Israel’s evil and there’s no need to downplay it. Israel made a mistake in its calculations, and it’s important to understand the will of the Iranian people.”

He added that Tehran’s “response will be determined by senior officials, in a manner that best serves the interest of the people and also takes the state into account.”

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