Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Israel is nearing its goal of toppling Iran’s Islamic Republic amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East. During his visit to Israeli troops positioned on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s ongoing efforts and identified the dismantling of Iran’s “terror regime” as a primary national objective. He expressed confidence that Iran’s network of regional allies would eventually disintegrate.
Netanyahu’s inspection of the troops was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz. Israeli forces have maintained a presence in southern Syria since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, occupying areas that formed part of a United Nations-patrolled buffer zone near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Reaffirming Israel’s stance, Netanyahu stated that the country would not permit a terrorist force to establish itself along its border.
Since the fall of Assad, Israel has conducted numerous military strikes in Syria and has frequently deployed forces across the border. The Syrian government has decried Israel’s military actions as an infringement on its sovereignty, while Israel maintains that its security zone is crucial and has advocated for an expanded demilitarized region in southern Syria.
Netanyahu’s recent comments regarding Iran occur amidst a larger confrontation involving Tehran and Washington over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has seen both sides engaging in a series of attacks, further intensifying regional tensions.