Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that an air campaign alone would not be sufficient to overthrow Iran’s regime—what is also required is a “ground component.” Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, he noted that “revolutions cannot be carried out from the air,” although, in his words, airpower can achieve a great deal—and that is precisely what Israel is now doing. He declined to elaborate on the possible forms of ground involvement.
Netanyahu also said that the decisive role ultimately rests with Iranian society, while Israel and the United States can only create the conditions for such a shift. At the same time, he claimed that Iran is no longer capable of enriching uranium or producing ballistic missiles, and pledged to continue strikes to eliminate these capabilities completely.
At the same time, the prospect of such a scenario is already met with scepticism. Netanyahu spoke shortly after Donald Trump said he had no intention of deploying American troops. However, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 65% of Americans believe he may ultimately authorize a large-scale ground operation. Analysts also note that the question of regime change in Iran carries greater urgency for Israel than it does for the United States.