iop, err := istio.UnmarshalIstioOperator(iopsYAML, allowUnknownField)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not unmarshal merged YAML: %s\n\nYAML:\n%s", err, iopsYAML)
	}
	if errs := validate.CheckIstioOperatorSpec(iop.Spec, true); len(errs) != 0 && !force {
		l.LogAndError("Run the command with the --force flag if you want to ignore the validation error and proceed.")
		return iop, fmt.Errorf(errs.Error())
	}
	return iop, nil