Iran’s Military ‘In Distress’ as US-Israeli Bombing Campaign Intensifies
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s military capabilities are severely hampered, with its security forces exhibiting signs of fear and its command structure exposed following weeks of US-Israeli bombing raids, according to an assessment reportedly delivered to Israeli political leaders by the IDF intelligence chief.
The assessment, reported Monday by Channel 12 news, paints a picture of a military apparatus struggling to respond effectively to the ongoing campaign aimed at destabilizing the Iranian regime and dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. While the bombing campaign, launched on February 28, has achieved operational successes, the possibility of those successes translating into regime change remains inconclusive, according to the report.
Major General Shlomi Binder, the IDF intelligence chief, reportedly told political leaders that Iranian officials are “starting to realize what happened to them,” and are grappling with the extent of the damage inflicted. “They’re discovering how exposed their command structure is and the damage that has been caused,” Binder said, according to the report.
The initial strikes in the campaign reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and approximately 40 other top Iranian officials.
Binder further indicated that Iran’s current missile launches are dictated by its limited capacity, rather than strategic considerations. “What they’re firing is what they’re capable of firing; it’s not economy of ammunition — they’re just incapable of any more than that,” he reportedly said, adding that underground missile bunkers are being systematically disabled. “They’re in distress,” Binder was quoted as saying.
The assessment also highlighted the psychological impact of the campaign on Iran’s security forces. Members are reportedly “afraid of going outside because of the presence of our and the Americans’ planes. Others are afraid to die or are insufficiently trained.”
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has not commented on the report.
Iran has responded to the US-Israeli campaign with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and the region. The conflict continues to escalate, raising concerns about wider regional instability.
[Image of debris in Tehran following a military strike, attributed to Atta KENARE / AFP]
The Times of Israel reported on March 15, 2026, that the ongoing conflict has prompted increased scrutiny of Iran’s military infrastructure and its ability to project power in the region. The situation remains fluid, with both sides signaling a commitment to continuing operations.
