I mean I think Israel knows they dont have the capabilities to effectively take out Iran’s nuclear program, that would only be possible in concert with the US. They can deal damage to the known (and unknown) nuclear sites, they can kill scientists, but ultimately this is just delaying the program, not destroying it. The real goal, I suspect, is to deal enough damage to Iran and humiliate them in such a manner that they HAVE to respond in a massive fashion, possibly targeting US assets and dragging them in as a result. Thats the end goal the Israelis are banking on. I dont think this was a decapitation strike so much as it was a ploy to hopefully bring the US into the conflict. And yeah, it reeks of desperation on Netanyahu’s part, but I dont see the US just idly standing by if Iran decides to strike back. Hezbollah is beaten, Assad is gone, Hamas has been pulverized, and the Houthis are a minor threat at best. That leaves just the head of the serpent, and both Israel and Iran know it. And Netanyahu seems to be have decided now is the time to go for the kill. We’ll see how Iran decides to respond but if they decide to go after US bases I dont see good things happening.