Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a new attack on Iran, saying that “Israel is capable of carrying out a military strike at any time”.
Netanyahu made the remarks during an interview with Israeli channel i24NEWS on Wednesday evening, as the region faces renewed escalation between the United States and Iran.
Asked whether another Israeli prime minister might be responsible for dealing with Iran after the elections, Netanyahu said that Israel would “ultimately confront the head of the Iranian octopus”, referring to Iran, and would work to “cut off its arms”.
He said “Israel” had already done so “in a very powerful way”, adding that Israeli Air Force pilots had reached Iran during previous confrontations and could return “at any moment”.
When asked whether, amid the current escalation with Iran, he meant that Israeli aircraft could reach the country again at any moment, Netanyahu replied: “Yes, they can be there at any moment, and we will settle the matter of this regime.”
The interviewer then asked what he meant by “settle” the regime and whether he was referring to overthrowing it.
“Bring it down,” Netanyahu replied directly, adding that the Iranian government was “staggering on two weak legs”.
Netanyahu Says Israeli Agencies Are Working to Topple Tehran
Netanyahu went beyond threatening another military strike, saying that all Israeli agencies were working under his direction towards overthrowing the Iranian government.
Asked whether Mossad chief Roman Gofman was working to bring down the government in Tehran, Netanyahu said: “All our agencies are working under my direction to bring down this regime and settle the matter.”
His remarks came hours after a major military escalation between the United States and Iran.
The US military command announced on Wednesday that it had completed a new wave of strikes on Iran that, according to Washington, targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, air defence systems, radar installations, communications facilities and capabilities associated with laying naval mines.
Reuters reported that the United States also targeted two oil tankers belonging to Iran’s state oil company, marking another escalation.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against US positions across the region, including bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq, in what Reuters described as the largest exchange of fire between Washington and Tehran since July.
Israel Says It Is Preparing for Possible Iranian Attack
Netanyahu’s remarks coincided with comments from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said the Israeli military was prepared to respond “with great force” if Iran attacked Israel.
Katz said Iran was currently attacking US positions across the region but had not yet targeted Israel.
He added that there was a possibility of an Iranian attack during the upcoming Jewish holiday period and said Israel was prepared defensively for such a scenario.
