Ex-Israeli Gen.: Army can't defeat Iran

Israel's former National Security Advisor has warned Tel Aviv that it lacks the military power to launch a successful attack against Iran.

"To our regret, there is no Israeli military capability that would enable us to reach a situation whereby Iran's nuclear capabilities are destroyed without the possibility of recovery," Giora Eiland said during a Thursday conference at Tel Aviv University, Ynetnews reported.

Military strikes and aerial attacks cannot force Iran to surrender or give up its nuclear program, said Eiland, pointing out that Israel 'cannot defeat Iran'.

Israel, the Middle East's sole nuclear-armed regime, claims that Iran's nuclear program, which is under the constant supervision of UN nuclear watchdog inspectors, is aimed at military purposes and poses an existential threat against its security.

Israeli officials regularly threaten Iran with a military attack on those bases.

Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that the country's nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only. They have even stated that Tehran has no intention to launch a military attack against Israel.

During the conference, Eiland also warned of the dire consequences of carrying out an unsuccessful strike against the country.

"If you undertake a failed military operation, you pay three-fold: firstly, you didn't succeed in hitting what you wanted, secondly, you've hurt your deterrence capabilities, and thirdly, you're perceived as the aggressor," he said. More