Israeli Military Official Predicts Annual Combat Rounds with Iran

SadaNews - A senior Israeli military official suggested on Thursday that military confrontations with Iran could continue through recurring combat rounds, which may occur annually, as long as the Iranian regime remains in power.

The newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" quoted the unnamed official as saying that "it is necessary to reset the expectations of the Israeli public," adding that Israel might face repeated combat rounds, "perhaps annually," in order to prevent Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs from threatening Tel Aviv.

Israel is preparing for the possibility of resuming war with Iran, following the confrontation it had with the United States on February 28, and after a previous war waged in June 2025.

The newspaper stated that Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has held discussions in recent weeks with military and intelligence leaders to prepare for a potential combat round in coordination with the United States.

It added that the Israeli military establishment seeks to prepare public opinion for a "new reality," in which it considers that the confrontation with Iran "will not end with a single strike."

According to the military official, the gaps between Washington and Tehran remain wide, despite ongoing negotiations mediated by Pakistan, amid a fragile truce that came into effect on April 8.

He stated that decisions in Iran are made by elements of the Revolutionary Guard, and that their interests "do not align with American demands," considering that U.S. President Donald Trump "may ultimately have no choice but to launch a new round of strikes on Iran."

He added that Israel views any upcoming round as "not being the last" as long as the Iranian regime remains in power, noting that Tehran is capable of rebuilding its military capabilities even after sustaining significant strikes.

Israeli officials expressed their concern, according to the newspaper, about the exclusion of the ballistic missile issue from the main negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The newspaper reported that Israeli estimates indicate that Iran possessed more than 2000 ballistic missiles before the war, and that about half of this stockpile still exists.

The military official stated that even if a solution is reached regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, Tehran "will accelerate the arms race, especially in the field of missiles," adding, "We will have no choice but to deliver another strike."