Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Israel is on the verge of toppling Iran’s Islamic Republic as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. During a visit to Israeli troops positioned on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu emphasized that while there is still work to be done, dismantling Iran’s “terror regime” remains a primary goal for Israel. He also expressed confidence that Iran’s extensive network of regional allies would eventually disintegrate.
Accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu’s visit underscores Israel’s ongoing military presence in southern Syria following the fall of Syria’s long-time leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israeli forces have taken control of territories that were once part of a UN-monitored buffer zone separating Israeli and Syrian forces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s stance against allowing what he termed a terrorist army to form along its border.
Since the collapse of Assad’s regime, Israel has conducted numerous military strikes in Syria and has consistently deployed forces into the region. The Syrian government has denounced Israel’s military actions as a breach of its sovereignty, while Israel maintains that its actions are necessary to uphold a security zone and has advocated for the establishment of a broader demilitarized area in southern Syria.
Netanyahu’s recent statements about Iran occur amidst a heightened confrontation between Tehran and Washington over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This ongoing Middle East conflict has seen both nations engage in a series of retaliatory attacks, further complicating the regional stability.