Netanyahu sets out two main Iran war objectives as Iran war escalates | World | News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has disclosed his two primary objectives for the war in Iran as he underscored the dangers of Iran’s Islamist regime.
Israel and the United States initiated a joint military operation against Iran on February 28th, named Operation Epic Fury by Americans and Operation Roaring Lion by Israelis, which has eliminated Iran’s top leadership and targeted its nuclear and police facilities.
For years, Netanyahu has been cautioning about the threat he believes Iran’s nuclear programme presents to Israel and the world.
Whilst touring the city of Arad, a diverse Israeli city where over 80 individuals were injured following an Iranian missile attack on a residential building, Netanyahu revealed his two priorities for the Iran war. The nearby southern desert town of Dimona was also struck.
“We’ve defined two clear goals,” Netanyahu exclusively informed Fox & Friends’ Trey Yingst on Sunday.
“One is to break completely their nuclear programme, break completely their missile programme, break completely their capacity to produce the components for both of these programmes, and we are all on our way to achieving it,” he said.
“We’ve also set a goal for creating conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow this tyranny that has tormented them and made life miserable. It’s making life miserable for the entire world, and I hope we achieve that, too.”
During that same visit, Netanyahu condemned Iran for targeting civilian areas within the past 48 hours, including civilians in Arad as well as holy sites in Jerusalem. He said it is a “miracle” that nobody was killed.
“They are doing it as a mass murder weapon. Luckily, nobody was killed. But that was due to luck, not their intention. Their intention is to murder civilians,” he boldly claimed.
Netanyahu asserted that Iran has the capability to strike deep within Europe, pointing out that it has already hit Cyprus.
He also criticised Iran for attacking the U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia and for its blockade of shipments in the Strait of Hormuz, alleging Iran is “trying to blackmail the entire world” as global fuel prices surge from the blockade.
“What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped. Israel and the United States are working together for the entire world.” He appealed to world leaders to join the fight and voiced hope that some are starting to do so, but pressed for more to become involved.
“President Trump’s call to have the international community confront this terrorist, fanatic regime of zealots. It’s not only for the security of America and Israel but also for the security of the entire world. And it’s time for them to act.”
He cautioned Iran that Israel will respond with “great force” to its strikes on Israeli civilians but pledged not to target civilians.
This follows after more than 175 people were killed and 95 were injured at Iran’s Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab during the initial strikes on Iran. The school is situated near a military base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of launching the strike, though both have rejected the allegation.
The strike remains under investigation, though preliminary reports suggest that the school was hit with a Tomahawk missile accidentally by the U.S. owing to a targeting error, Al Jazeera reports.
The Israeli PM’s comments were issued nearly a year after Israel executed a significant 12-day military operation against Iran, during which it aimed at Iran’s nuclear facilities starting mid-June.
During the 12-day conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump also supported Israel, conducting strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. At that time, Trump proclaimed victory and asserted he “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
