Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "crushing the terror regime in Iran" and striking its proxy
By Sammy,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "crushing the terror regime in Iran" and striking its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon in his first press conference since the war with Iran began 13 days ago. "Hezbollah is feeling our force, and it will feel it even more so. It will pay a very heavy price for its aggression," he warned, framing the campaign as part of a broader effort to dismantle Iran's missile and nuclear programs. Netanyahu said Israel had previously warned Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei not to rebuild his "industries of death," but that he accelerated the nuclear program and buried it deeper. "If we had not acted immediately, within a few months Iran's industries of death would have become immune to any strike. Therefore, we went out together to battle, the United States and Israel, to continue what we began," he said.
Addressing the Iranian people, Netanyahu emphasized that regime change ultimately depends on them. "The moment when you will be able to embark on a new path of freedom is approaching. We stand with you. We are helping you, but in the end, it depends on you. It is in your hands," he said. He described Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, as a "puppet" of the Revolutionary Guards who "cannot show his face in public." While Israel is delivering "crushing blows to the Revolutionary Guards, their bases, their street forces, their checkpoints, and more is yet to come," Netanyahu stressed that the Iranian people may or may not act, adding, "You can lead someone to water, you cannot make him drink."
Netanyahu highlighted the unprecedented US-Israel alliance with President Donald Trump as central to the campaign's success. "We have created an alliance unlike any before with the United States, an alliance with our great friend, my personal friend, President Trump. We speak almost every day. We speak freely, exchange ideas and advice, and make decisions together," he said. He quoted Trump as saying, "'Our relationship is one hundred times stronger than any relationship that has existed between an American president and an Israeli prime minister. We are not thinking only about our countries, or only about this generation. We are thinking about future generations, about the future of humanity.'" Netanyahu also noted Israel is pursuing new regional partnerships, describing them as "alliances that only a few weeks ago would have seemed unimaginable."
On Hezbollah and Lebanon, Netanyahu left the option of a ground operation open while warning the Lebanese government to act. "You committed, so take your fate into your own hands. The time has come for you to do it. If they don't, we will have no choice but to do so in our own ways," he said. He added that Hezbollah retains some capacity but is "much weakened" after Israel's strikes in 2024, and promised Israel will continue protecting northern communities. Netanyahu said, "We'll deal with it," leaving unspecified how future operations will proceed.
Netanyahu also addressed domestic politics, defending himself against ongoing legal proceedings. He called the trial a "political witch hunt" and said, "It should have been closed once we encountered extortion and threats against witnesses, not a small part of that targeted my personal circle." He dismissed claims of US interference, stating, "It does not work through diktats, it works through dialogue, shared concepts, consultation and joint work." Netanyahu reaffirmed that coalition priorities include passing the state budget and expects his government to serve nearly its full term, with elections possible in September or October. He concluded by praising Israeli resilience and faith, "'Where does this spirit come from?' \[Trump\] always asks me. And I answer him, 'This is the secret of our success. This is the resilience of our people. This is the power of our faith, the faith in the Eternity of Israel.'"
Topics: Iran, Lebanon & Hezbollah, Missile Defense & Alerts
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.