The Israeli Air Force is continuing its preparations for potential strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, following the weakening of Tehran’s allies in the Middle East—primarily Hezbollah—and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Israeli military officials told The Times of Israel.

IDF commanders believe that an isolated Iran might respond by further advancing its nuclear program.

Due to dramatic changes in the Middle East, particularly the fall of Assad, which enabled the Israeli Air Force to neutralize the overwhelming majority of Syria’s air defenses, the Israeli military now sees an opportunity to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.