Spoiler alert, it is still too early to tell. While that may be the short version, here is more detail.
Following the massive attack on key nuclear sites using the biggest bunker busters ever, all the pundits have been voicing their opinions. President Trump has announced it an unqualified success with total destruction of the sites and Iran's nuclear ambitions eliminated forever. Ok, I am exaggerating, but that is the spirit of his commentary. The left-leaning newspapers have doused these claims as being too optimistic and cited various 'leaked' security services' assessments as questioning the success of the mission. The bombing has not destroyed all the sites, and some 40kg of 60% enriched Uranium was transported from the sites and hidden elsewhere.
Clearly, we have Trump and his team with a strong interest in owning a successful mission. At the same time, the anti-Trump brigade, including most Democrats, the left-leaning media and some isolationist Republicans, want to prove it a failure.
As always, it is challenging to glean truth from the cacophony of claims. But there is one party that has a strong interest in the truth. That is Israel. Israel, under an existential threat from a nuclear-armed Iran, certainly wants to know whether Iran's nuclear ambitions have been thwarted for keeps.
So what does Israel say? Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said
"It is too early to fully assess the operation's achievements, which will be discussed for years to come. Even at this moment, we maintain high alertness. Our missions are not complete, and we will continue to act for our future."
He stressed that Iran's nuclear program, according to Israeli assessments, "has been set back for years."
So there you have it, 'too early to tell the details, but successfully put back for years. That is good news.
You can read more about the assessment in Israel Hayom's article "Did Trump's Iran strike do its job? New information sparks controversy"
I guess time will tell.
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