Israel in worse shape than people think, one third of Tel Aviv damaged, says US ex-Army Officer

But in a statement posted on his verified Twitter account, Macgregor warned, “Don’t be fooled, Israel is in worse shape than people think.”

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor has sparked global attention with a stark assessment of Israel’s current situation in the ongoing conflict, claiming the nation is facing far greater damage than publicly acknowledged.

Recall that The DEFENDER has continued to reference Israel’s order banning the media from reporting exact impact of the Iran’s retaliatory attacks on its territory especially the military sites.

Earlier on Saturday June 21, 2025, this Pan-Africanist global online newspaper reported, citing agencies, that United States President Donald Trump said “it’s very difficult to stop Israel from bombing Iran while winning”.

But in a statement posted on his verified Twitter account, Macgregor warned, “Don’t be fooled, Israel is in worse shape than people think.”

According to the former senior Pentagon advisor, approximately one-third of Tel Aviv has been “damaged or destroyed,” a figure that—if confirmed—would mark a significant escalation in the toll the conflict has taken on Israeli infrastructure.

This is as more world leaders including Iran itself, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and even a former Am Nigerian Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode keep asking US to let Israel fight its battle it started by itself.

Tel Aviv, often regarded as Israel’s commercial and cultural capital, has not been widely reported as a central target in recent weeks, making Macgregor’s statement particularly alarming.

The retired colonel also suggested that Israeli military preparedness has been significantly undermined.

“As far as their military installations are concerned, I’m told many Israeli aircrafts are being flown to Cyprus to avoid being struck,” Macgregor said, implying that the Israeli Air Force is repositioning assets out of concern for further Iranian strikes.

“Israel was not prepared for Iran’s response,” he concluded, suggesting that the scale and precision of Tehran’s retaliatory attacks caught the Israeli military establishment off guard.

Macgregor’s post has reignited debates online about the transparency of war reporting and the real extent of the conflict’s impact.

While Israeli authorities have not confirmed the extent of damage suggested, his comments are likely to raise questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s defense systems and the broader strategic outlook of the conflict.

Also, The Tradesman, @The_Tradesman1 on X, reported “Retired U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor stated that mainstream media reports about Iran’s instability are false, asserting that Iran is not on the verge of collapse or internal revolt. He compared current narratives about Iran to past claims about Russia’s downfall in 2022. Macgregor warned that Israel is facing serious danger and predicted that although the U.S. military may participate in strikes against Iran, such actions will not achieve their intended goals.”