PARIS, Jun 15: Israel's unprecedented strikes on Iran, which have killed top military leaders and nuclear scientists, required years of meticulous intelligence gathering and infiltration, experts say.
Israel said it hit hundreds of targets on Friday alone, and has since continued its attacks, striking a defence facility and fuel depots on Sunday.
The fiercest-ever exchange of fire between the arch foes came in the midst of ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington seeking to reach a deal on Iran's nuclear programme.
"Israel has been following the nuclear programme for 15 years," Israeli analyst Michael Horowitz told AFP.
"The strikes we see are the result of years of intelligence gathering and infiltration of the Islamic republic."
Israel has previously carried out more limited attacks against Iranian military sites, including in October last year.
"It seems that this week's operation had been in preparation for months, with an acceleration after the operation last year significantly weakened Iranian air defences," Horowitz said.
The United States and other Western countries, along with Israel, accuse Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon.
Tehran denies that, but has gradually broken away from its commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal it struck with world powers, which the United States withdrew from during President Donald Trump's first term.
The landmark accord had provided Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its atomic programme.
Israel is long believed to have carried out sabotage operations inside Iran through its Mossad espionage agency, but the attacks that started on Friday are by far the broadest in scope.
The campaign has shown Israel to be capable of precisely locating and taking out high-ranking Iranian officials and nuclear scientists.
A European security source said the strikes showed "an impressive degree of precision and mastery".
Israel says it has killed 20 military and security targets, including the armed forces' chief of staff and the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, as well as nine nuclear scientists.
Danny Citrinowicz, of the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies, said the ability to take out high-ranking officials showed "intelligence, but also operational superiority of Israel over Iran".
"It's highly connected to the ability to collect information, intelligence in Iran for years, excellent intelligence that actually allows you to detect where they're living, the seniors, also the nuclear scientists," he told. "AFP
