Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel is on the brink of dismantling Iran’s Islamic Republic, as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. During a visit to Israeli troops on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu emphasized that although there is more work to be done, the primary goal is to topple what he referred to as Iran’s “terror regime.” He also forecasted the eventual collapse of Iran’s broader network of regional alliances.
Netanyahu’s visit was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz, amid an ongoing Israeli military presence in southern Syria since the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Israeli forces have taken control of areas that were once part of a UN-monitored buffer zone, which separated Israeli and Syrian troops near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not permit the formation of what he described as a terrorist army along its border.
Since Assad’s fall, Israel has conducted numerous strikes in Syria and has frequently deployed forces into Syrian territory. The Syrian government has condemned Israel’s military activities as a breach of its sovereignty, while Israel maintains that its actions are necessary for establishing a security zone and aims to expand a demilitarized area in southern Syria.
Netanyahu’s remarks regarding Iran coincide with heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as both nations have been engaged in exchanges during the ongoing Middle East conflict. This broader confrontation adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile regional situation.