Israel pushing for regime change in Iran as war likely to prolong: expert

Israel is attempting to drag the United States into its conflict with Iran, with the aim of prolonging the war and pushing for regime change in Tehran, according to the director of the Middle East Studies Forum at the Alfred Deakin Institute, speaking to Al Jazeera.

The expert, Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh, stated that since the United States has already reaffirmed its commitment to Israel's defence, the conflict is likely to escalate and last much longer.

“There is every chance this could spread across the entire region and draw in the United States,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Israel is actually relying on this dynamic,that once a conflict begins, the US has an obligation and a security commitment to Israel. So, the US will inevitably be pulled into the conflict,” Akbarzadeh added.

He further stated, “This is exactly what Netanyahu is trying to achieve, to drag the US into a conflict that ultimately results in regime change in Iran.”

After Israel launched a war by attacking Iran, Tehran began its retaliation by firing more than 200 missiles at Israel.Iran

On Friday morning, Israel carried out airstrikes on dozens of locations in Iran, targeting the residences of military leaders as well as military and nuclear installations.

In the Israeli attacks, several senior Iranian officials were martyred, including six scientists, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Hossein Salami, Iranian Army Chief of Staff General Mohammad Bagheri, and the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, Major General Gholam Ali Rashid.

In response, Iran launched a counteroffensive under the name Operation True Promise 3. Over 200 missiles were fired at Israel in four phases.

According to Israeli media, at least four Israelis were confirmed dead in the Iranian missile attacks, while more than 60 people were injured.