Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that toppling the Iranian regime is Israel’s “central mission” and that the goal is now “within reach.”
Speaking during a Rosh Hashanah toast with the IDF General Staff Forum, Netanyahu declared that Iran’s leadership is weaker than ever and fighting for survival. He credited Israeli military operations since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, with reducing the Iranian threat.
“The regime is now faltering. It is weaker than ever. It is fighting for its survival,” Netanyahu said. “I am confident in our ability to remove this threat once and for all — in other words, to topple this regime. That is the central mission that still lies ahead of us, but it is close. It is not impossible. It is within reach.”
He added that Iran has avoided direct attacks on Israel because it understands the country’s military strength and determination. In a clear warning to regional enemies, Netanyahu stated: “Don’t mess with us. If you have learned anything, don’t mess with us. We have the strength, the determination and the internal unity to defeat you.”
Israeli media and officials have also indicated that, under Netanyahu’s direction, relevant state institutions are actively working toward defeating the Iranian government. Reports circulating in some outlets further claimed that Israeli pilots remain prepared to carry out operations inside Iran at short notice if ordered.
Earlier on Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any Iranian attack on Israel would trigger strikes against the full range of the regime’s infrastructure, including energy facilities. Katz spoke in response to reports that Iran had threatened a forceful reply to any Israeli action against a strategic Hezbollah site in southern Lebanon.
Channel 12 news reported that Israeli officials believe Iran’s Quds Force and Hamas have stepped up efforts to attack Israelis abroad. Authorities fear these groups may try to stage high-profile attacks overseas ahead of the Jewish holidays and the third anniversary of October 7, shifting their response away from Israeli territory.
In Washington, US Vice President JD Vance said the United States will not negotiate with Iran until Tehran stops attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “We are not talking to the Iranians, and we are not going to talk to them unless they stop shooting at commercial shipping,” Vance told reporters. He advised Iranian leaders to “stop acting like crazy people.”
Vance noted that oil flows through the strait are moving closer to pre-conflict levels and linked current high global energy prices to Iranian attacks on shipping. He also confirmed that US Central Command is examining a recent American strike in southern Iran that Iranian media said hit a wedding.
The comments from Netanyahu and Katz come amid ongoing regional tensions, continued US pressure on Iran’s economy, and preparations for possible further escalation around the Jewish holidays.
