IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir addressed Operation "With Lions" and said that "after 12 days of unprecedented fighting - the IDF performed at its best and fully achieved the purpose and objectives of the operation." According to him, "According to the assessment of senior officials in the IDF Intelligence Division, the damage to the nuclear program is not isolated but systemic - the cumulative achievement allows us to determine that the Iranian nuclear project has suffered severe, extensive and deep damage and has been set back years - we will not allow Iran to produce weapons of mass destruction." The Chief of Staff added that "the forces operated covertly deep in enemy territory and created operational freedom for us."