Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Tuesday that Iran no longer represents an existential threat to Israel, citing what he described as major military and strategic gains in recent weeks.
In a recorded message released ahead of the Passover holiday, Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s “enormous accomplishments” in its campaign against Iran and Tehran-backed regional allies, while acknowledging the human cost of the conflict, including the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon the previous day.
“On this holiday of freedom, Israel is stronger than ever,” he said, asserting that Iran no longer has the capacity to threaten Israel’s existence.
The remarks come as hostilities between Israel and Iran-supported groups enter a fifth week, with exchanges of fire reported on multiple fronts. Netanyahu outlined a series of coordinated strikes, conducted alongside the United States, targeting Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile infrastructure, and regional proxy forces.
He emphasized that the operations have significantly weakened Tehran’s military capabilities, hitting nuclear facilities, missile production sites, state institutions, security agencies, and senior officials linked to Iran’s defense apparatus.
Netanyahu further claimed that Iran’s long-term military investments, estimated at nearly $1 trillion, have been severely undermined, asserting that the strategic balance has shifted in Israel’s favor while Iran’s leadership has been weakened.
The Prime Minister’s statement underscores Israel’s confidence in its military operations amid ongoing regional tensions and escalating exchanges with Iran-backed groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, armed factions in the West Bank, and Houthi forces in Yemen.
