WEBDESK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel’s recent military offensive could bring about major changes not only across the Middle East but within Iran itself.
Speaking at a press briefing, Netanyahu stated, “We are changing the face of the Middle East and that can lead to radical changes inside Iran itself.”
In response to Israel’s unprovoked attacks, Iran has fired multiple waves of missiles at Israel, raising concerns about the potential for a much wider conflict across the region.
Netanyahu laid out Israel’s current military objectives during the press conference.
He said, “We are pursuing three main objectives: the elimination of the nuclear programme, the elimination of ballistic missile production capability, and the elimination of the axis of terrorism.” The “axis of terrorism” referred to groups in the Middle East supported by Iran.
Israel claims it has struck key Iranian positions, taking out high-level officials and damaging significant infrastructure.
According to Netanyahu, “We have eliminated Iran’s security leadership, including three chiefs of staff, the commander of their air force, and two intelligence chiefs. We are eliminating them, one after the other.
Netanyahu also suggested that the strikes had shifted how Iranians view their leadership.
“They understand that the regime is much weaker than they thought – they realise it, and that could lead to results,” he remarked.
Iranian authorities report that the Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 people, which includes civilians, senior military officers, and nuclear experts. On the other side, Israel says that 24 people have died in Iranian attacks since Friday.
Netanyahu noted that Israel’s actions are closely coordinated with the United States, adding, “We will do what is necessary to achieve these goals.”
Yesterday, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a strong warning to Iran, threatening the civilians, following deadly overnight missile attacks that had left at least five people dead and many others injured in Israel.
In a message posted on his Telegram channel, Katz said the people of Tehran would “pay the price – and soon” for the strikes that had targeted civilians.
Katz also took aim at Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him “the boastful dictator from Tehran” who had become “a cowardly murderer” by ordering attacks on Israel’s civilian population.
He said the strikes were aimed at discouraging the Israeli military from continuing its campaign, which he claimed was severely weakening Iran’s abilities.
Tensions continue to rise as the world watches closely, fearing that any miscalculation could draw in more global powers and take the Middle East further toward full-scale war.
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