Marom believes the attack reshaped regional alliances and exposed weaknesses in Iran’s threat posture.
Former Israeli Navy Chief of Staff, V.-Adm. (res.) Eliezer “Chayni” Marom, told 103FM on Sunday that Iran made a series of “mistakes” during the fighting, the most serious of which was a “grave strategic mistake” made by Tehran in launching a direct attack on Israel from Iranian territory.
Marom believes the attack reshaped regional alliances and exposed weaknesses in Iran’s threat posture.
The former Israeli navy chief said the attack marked a turning point because it removed ambiguity about Iran’s role and forced regional actors to reassess their interests. “The starting point of this chain is April 14,” he said, referring to the night Iran fired drones and missiles directly at Israel.
He argued that direct fire from Iran undermines Tehran’s deterrence and increases its exposure, especially since much of the fire is intercepted.
Malom said Iran “promises hell” but revealed limits on his ability to turn threats into sustained battlefield impact.
On March 1, 2026, a ballistic missile launched by Iran hit Beit Shemesh in central Israel, causing serious damage (Photo source: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
The attack was Iran’s first direct attack on Israel
jerusalem post It was reported at the time that the attack was Iran’s first direct attack on Israel, and that Israel and its partners intercepted the vast majority of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched.
Marom also believes that Iran’s attitude towards neighboring countries has weakened its position in the region, saying that Tehran has “burned” relations with neighboring countries and “brought itself a bad name” in neighboring countries. He described the outcome as a clearer regional picture of “who is targeting whom” following repeated attacks and threats from Iran linked to the wider conflict environment.
The former Israeli naval chief said he was cautious in his remarks, assessing that Iran’s ability to carry out its threats was not as extensive as many Israelis believe. At the same time, he emphasized that opponents should not be underestimated, even if their performance appears to be weaker than expected.
In other remarks in recent weeks, Malom has warned that even if Iran’s current leadership falls, the outcome may not be democratic and could instead produce a military-led government dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He said the leadership vacuum after a regime falls often creates chaos, especially in the absence of a unifying figure.
Marom’s comments come amid ongoing debate in Israel over how to assess Iran’s remaining capabilities, the durability of its alliance and the risk of escalation if diplomacy fails. He also believes that the next phase may depend on the success or failure of negotiations, warning that the window for reaching a negotiated outcome may be narrowing.
The former Israeli navy chief concluded by warning that even if an adversary appears exposed, strategic surprises can still occur and that “after the fall of every regime, there is almost always chaos.”
