The Israeli Air Force is reportedly preparing for possible strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to military officials speaking to the Times of Israel.

West Jerusalem perceives that the unexpected takeover of Syria by jihadist factions has diminished Tehran’s influence in the region, potentially accelerating Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as noted by the publication.

In the meantime, Israeli airstrikes have significantly degraded Syrian air defenses, facilitating a potential operation against Iran.

Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful and civilian purposes, countering claims from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. In 2015, the leading five nuclear powers reached an agreement with Iran to oversee its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions; however, the United States withdrew from this accord in 2018.

Reports indicate that Israel contemplated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites following Tehran’s missile attack on October 1, but ultimately decided against executing those plans.

Netanyahu’s administration has leveraged the recent developments in Syria to undermine its neighbor’s military capabilities, conducting what has been described as “one of the largest attack operations in the history” of the Israeli Air Force. Earlier this week, Israeli aircraft targeted over 250 locations across Syria, including airports, seaports, air defense systems, missile sites, military production facilities, and storage depots. Additionally, Israeli forces advanced beyond the buffer zone in the Golan Heights, asserting control over Mount Hermon.

Last week, Bashar Assad’s government in Syria was ousted by militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), although the jihadist group has yet to establish firm control.