Iran 'bluffing' with threats against US, former Israeli security chief says
By Cordelia Lynch, Asia correspondent, in Tel Aviv
Israel has the firm edge in this conflict.
It's taken out Iran's top brass and their replacements. It's taken control of the skies over Tehran and it's not ruling out regime change either.
And Benjamin Netanyahu, who just a week ago was facing huge political opposition, now has the public and even his opponents backing him. But Iran's supreme leader isn't backing down - vowing to stand firm and warning the United States there will be huge risks if it joins the battle.
Yaakov Amidror, former head of the Israeli National Security Council, believes that's an empty threat.
"I think that the Iranians are using irrelevant language. They are bluffing. They don't have the capabilities they had two years ago. Hezbollah is gone. Hamas doesn't exist as a threat," he told me.
Amidror, who participated in high-level talks with US officials about the Iranian nuclear programme when he was national security advisor, believes Israel only needs the US for one thing - bunker-busting bombs to destroy Iran's Fordow nuclear facility.
"We don't have the capabilities to destroy from the air. The Americans have better capabilities to do it from the air. And for that, we need the Americans," he said.
Striking support for Israeli offensive on streets of Tel Aviv
The big question is just how involved the US is willing to be.
Donald Trump spent the first months of his term holding back Israel's push for an assault on Iran鈥檚 nuclear program. Now he appears to be seriously considering using American aircraft in the fight.
Whatever he decides, on the streets of Tel Aviv, there is striking support and even a bit of swagger around the Israeli offensive.
Iran recently issued an evacuation notice to the residents of Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish neighbourhood built outside of the old port city of Jaffa. And yet I met people who not only seem unfazed by that threat, but also confident about the days and possibly weeks ahead.
"I'm very relaxed here, this is Israel you know, we are safe here," Adi told me as he sat outside a cafe.
Israelis believe Netanyahu has moved at a critical time
Many people I've spoken to recently in Israel believe Netanyahu has moved at a critical time and successfully - even if they have been critical of his leadership on many other fronts.
For Adi's friend Jackie, tackling Tehran is long overdue.
"For 45 years Iran has said to all the world we are going to destroy Israel," he said.
It is a country he says "manufactures weapons and little else".
Many Israelis have been raised on the belief Iran is an existential threat. But this is a perilous moment. And there's no white flag yet. All eyes are now on the United States and a leader who can so quickly turn.