Israel forging new alliances with Arab nations against Iran: Netanyahu
What's the story
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel is forging new alliances with "important countries in the region" to counter what he calls the "Iranian threat." In a recent address, Netanyahu hinted at a growing partnership between Israel and parts of the Arab world. He attributed this shift to common fears over Iran's military and nuclear ambitions.
Progress claimed
'We hit hard and distanced 2 existential threats'
Netanyahu said Israel's outreach is part of a larger strategy after what he called major battlefield gains. He claimed that recent operations have significantly weakened Iran's ability to develop weapons, removing the immediate threat of Iran arming itself with nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. "We hit hard and distanced two existential threats," he said, referring to Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.
Regime prediction
Netanyahu predicts Iranian regime will fall
Netanyahu also claimed that Iran's regional influence has been curtailed, with Hezbollah no longer a "strategic threat" to Israel. He went further to predict a long-term change in Tehran, saying, "Sooner or later, the Iranian regime will fall." The Israeli leader did not name any of the countries involved in these new alliances but promised more information soon.
Cost acknowledgment
'Dismantling us from within': Opposition leader
Netanyahu also acknowledged the "painful costs" of these military operations, which have led to the deaths of Israeli soldiers. He praised what he called "immense, enormous accomplishments" in the joint Israel-US effort against Iran. The speech comes as Israel mourns four soldiers killed in ground operations in Lebanon. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu's speech as "arrogant," accusing him of "dismantling us from within."