America's Invaluable Ally

"According to an Israeli air-force spokesperson, in the opening wave, some 200 Israeli jets hit more than 500 targets in the first day, quite apart from any attacks by drones or special-operations forces. U.S. Central Command has yet to release its number of strikes from the first day, but they will likely be on the same order of magnitude, although conducted from a wider variety of platforms, including from the sea."

"During the Gulf War, for example, when Great Britain was still a major power, it deployed barely 60 strike aircraft to deliver munitions-some of which, such as the runway-denial weapon JP-233, were both unnecessary and dangerous for the pilots-in a much larger American air campaign. Today, however, the Israeli air force is equipped with the latest American aircraft and its own and American munitions, and is operating on a scale that no U.S. European ally could match in this theater."

"It was made much easier by the sensible decision of the first Trump administration to put Israel in the Central Command area of responsibility, rather than leaving it, as it had been for 40 years, for the European Command. It was facilitated as well by the American military's realization that here was a first-class fighting force with whom it could readily work."

The Iran conflict represents a major coalition war where Israel functions as a significant operational partner rather than a minor contributor. Israeli forces deployed approximately 200 jets striking over 500 targets on the opening day, comparable in scale to U.S. operations conducted across diverse platforms including naval assets. This represents unprecedented allied coordination, surpassing historical precedents like the Gulf War when Britain deployed only 60 strike aircraft. Israel's integration into U.S. Central Command, rather than European Command, facilitated this partnership. The Israeli air force operates with advanced American and indigenous aircraft and munitions, demonstrating first-class military capability. The broader anti-Iran coalition extends beyond U.S.-Israeli coordination, with reports indicating Saudi Arabia privately supported military action despite public distance.

Read at The Atlantic