Dismantling the Regime: Why Israel Must Target Iran’s Leaders Now

 

Iran’s reckless aggression justifies Israel's preemptive right to eliminate not just threats but the architects of those threats, starting with Khamenei. In plain English, a targeted strike on Iran’s leadership will not just end missile attacks; it could trigger the collapse of a dangerous theocratic regime—an outcome the world should welcome.

Iran's decision to fire almost 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel on October 1, 2024, is nothing short of stirring a hornet’s nest, and the consequences could reverberate far beyond what Tehran may have calculated. This attack, the second of its kind this year, marks an alarming escalation in the long-standing hostility between the two nations. However, it may turn out to be a colossal mistake on Iran’s part, as it now faces the wrath of an Israel that is not likely to sit back in defense mode.

Israeli air defense systems, aided by U.S. Navy destroyers stationed in the region, intercepted a large number of these missiles. Despite this success, the sheer scale of the attack rattled the region, and both Israeli and American leaders have vowed swift retaliation. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is said to have retreated to his underground bunker, a move that signifies more than just caution—it’s a signal that he understands the gravity of what’s about to follow. Iran may have thrown the first punch, but Israel is known for delivering a knockout blow, and this time, it seems ready to target Iran's leadership directly.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in declaring that Iran had made a "big mistake" and that it "will pay" for its actions. Netanyahu’s words are not just political posturing; they echo a long history of Israel’s military strategy that favors swift and decisive retaliation. One need only look back at Israel’s precision strikes against adversaries to understand that Iran’s leadership should be bracing itself. When Israel feels its survival is threatened, it doesn’t just strike back—it eliminates the root of the problem. Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, has a storied history of covert operations, including the 2020 assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran's top nuclear scientist. Such precision targeting could soon be replicated, with Israel focusing on Khamenei and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leadership.

In recent years, Iran’s aggressive posturing in the region has escalated. Tehran has supported proxy groups like Hezbollah and Hamas in their attacks on Israel. But this direct missile assault marks a shift in Iran’s tactics. It no longer hides behind proxies; it has put its own military assets on the line. Israel, in response, could very well see this as an opportunity not just to retaliate but to cripple Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership, potentially altering the balance of power in the Middle East. Netanyahu and his defense establishment are known for their strategic long-term thinking, and this latest incident may push them to consider a broader plan—one that includes targeting key figures within Iran's regime.

While Tehran has framed the attack as retaliation for the recent assassinations of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan, it also exposes Iran’s increasing desperation. Israel’s military incursions into Lebanon and strikes against Hezbollah targets in Syria have significantly weakened Iran's ability to project power through its proxies. Iran’s missile barrage, codenamed "Operation True Promise 2," might have been intended to demonstrate strength, but it has instead highlighted the regime’s vulnerability. Reports from inside Iran indicate panic, with citizens lining up at gas stations and preparing for the possibility of Israeli retaliation that could extend far beyond missile strikes.

Israel is unlikely to be satisfied with just taking out missile sites or launching counterstrikes on Iranian military bases. The real prize may be the toppling of Iran’s theocratic regime itself. With domestic unrest growing in Iran and economic sanctions strangling the country, the regime's stability is already on shaky ground. A targeted Israeli response, aimed at the heart of Iran’s leadership, could push the country to a breaking point. It’s not inconceivable that Khamenei’s regime could face an existential crisis as a result of this conflict.

For Khamenei, hiding in his bunker may buy him some time, but it will not save him. Israel’s intelligence network is among the most sophisticated in the world, and if the decision is made to strike at the head of the Iranian regime, it’s only a matter of time before it happens. The world has seen how effective Israel can be when it sets its sights on a target. In 1981, it took out Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in a bold preemptive strike that set back Iraq’s nuclear ambitions by years. More recently, its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and the elimination of key military figures have shown that Israel is more than capable of executing high-stakes operations.

But the question remains: What happens after? Iran has already threatened “stronger and more painful” attacks if Israel retaliates, a statement that reeks of desperation more than confidence. Should Israel go after Iran’s leadership, we could see a domino effect that leads to further instability in the region. However, this may be precisely what Israel is counting on. By eliminating the figures that hold power in Tehran, Israel might just accelerate the regime’s collapse, a development that could reshape the Middle East for years to come.

In the end, Iran may have thought it was flexing its muscles, but all it has done is provoke a response from Israel that could have far-reaching consequences. And for Khamenei, hiding underground won’t protect him from the storm that is surely coming. Israel’s retaliation will be swift, and if history is any guide, it will be devastating. Iran has poked the hornet’s nest, and now it will feel the sting. As the proverb goes, “Those who play with fire often get burned,” and it seems Iran is about to find out just how hot things can get when you cross Israel.

One can only hope that Tehran has a good insurance policy on its bunker because it’s about to face an Israeli storm like no other.