Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern that a preemptive strike against Iran before Israel's
By Bernard Moerdler,
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern that a preemptive strike against Iran before Israel's October 27 election would lead to accusations that he was using military action for political purposes, Haaretz reported, citing sources familiar with his meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to the report, the United States and Israel reached an agreement in principle on the need for a preemptive strike against Iran to prevent further advances in its nuclear and missile programs. The conclusion was central to Monday's lengthy meeting between Netanyahu and Hegseth at the Ovda Air Base in southern Israel.
Intelligence presented during the meeting reportedly indicated that Iran was moving nuclear equipment into more heavily protected underground facilities, raising concerns that the sites could soon become significantly more difficult to strike.
Haaretz reported that Netanyahu told American officials he feared an attack before the election would prompt accusations that he was attempting to influence the vote in his favor. He also expressed concern that even if Iran attacked Israel first, his political opponents would accuse him of exploiting the confrontation for electoral purposes.
Netanyahu reportedly emphasized the sensitivity of the timing and asked that consideration be given to how military action could proceed without appearing politically motivated. The reported agreement in principle does not establish that a strike has been authorized or that a date has been set.
Topics: Iran, Missile Defense & Alerts, Israeli Politics
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.