IDF intel chief said to assess Iran ‘in distress’ as it begins to grasp damage from strikes
Iran’s military apparatus is “in distress” and incapable of launching many missiles at Israel, while members of the country’s security forces stay inside for fear of Israeli and US warplanes, according to an assessment reportedly delivered by the IDF intelligence chief to political leaders.
Despite Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder’s rosy assessment of the the US-Israeli bombing campaign’s operation successes, the closed-door meeting held by political leaders was inconclusive as to whether those successes could be translated into regime change in Iran, Channel 12 news reported Monday.
During the meeting, which took place in recent days, Binder said that lately “the Iranians are starting to realize what happened to them,” according to the unsourced report.
“They’re discovering how exposed their command structure is and the damage that has been caused” in the bombing campaign launched by the US and Israel on February 28, Binder said, according to the report.
The opening salvo of the bombing campaign killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and some 40 other top Iranian officials.
Israeli and US officials have said the operation would last weeks and seeks to destabilize the Iranian regime and destroy its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Iran has responded to the US-Israeli campaign with missile and drone strikes at Israel and the region.
“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,” Binder reportedly said, adding that Iran’s underground missile bunkers were being “plugged up daily” by the US-Israeli bombings to ensure Iran can’t fire any more.
“They’re in distress,” he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, members of Iran’s security forces were “afraid of going outside because of the presence of our and the Americans’ planes. Others are afraid to die or are insufficiently trained,” Binder reportedly said.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit did not respond to a request for comment on the report, Channel 12 said.
Are you relying on The Times of Israel for accurate and timely coverage of the Iran war right now? If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6/month, you will:
Support our independent journalists who are working around the clock under difficult conditions to cover this conflict;
Read ToI with a clear, ads-free experience on our site, apps and emails; and
Gain access to exclusive content shared only with the ToI Community, including weekly letters from founding editor David Horovitz.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
You clearly find our careful reporting of the Iran war valuable, at a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.
Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically during this ongoing conflict.
So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you'll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
1 First personGamblers trying to win a bet on Polymarket are vowing to kill me if I don’t rewrite an Iran missile story
2 Seizing Iran’s uranium could take ‘largest special forces operation in history’ – WSJ
3 6 wounded after Hezbollah rocket impact sparks fire in northern Israel
4 Lauding Israeli help, Trump intensifies pressure on China, others to help secure Hormuz Strait
5 Injuries and heavy damage to homes as Iran fires multiple missile salvos at Israel
6 ‘One Battle After Another’ wins best picture at 98th Oscars; 3 films about Gaza war fall short
7 Iran hits Gulf neighbors, keeps stranglehold on oil shipping, fueling energy crisis fears
8 At Oscars, stars pin their hopes on ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘ICE OUT’
2026 US-Israel war with Iran
Military Intelligence Directorate
