Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the results of Israel’s military attacks could lead to a change in leadership in Iran.
In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu expressed his views, stating that Israel will do everything possible to eliminate the “existential threat” posed by Iran to Israel.
Starting early Friday morning, Israel launched a massive strike against Iran, targeting top Iranian military commanders and destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel has issued warnings that the attacks will continue to escalate in the coming days. Iran, in turn, has vowed to retaliate with a forceful response.
The Israeli military has clarified that the current objective of the strikes is not regime change in Iran, but to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
During the Fox News interview, when asked if regime change in Iran is part of Israel’s military efforts, Prime Minister Netanyahu responded, “It could be a result because the Iranian regime is very weak at the moment.”
He also mentioned that 80% of Iranians want to overthrow the current leadership because the regime has been murdering and oppressing its people, and the Iranian citizens have been longing for freedom for 46 years.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is prepared to do everything necessary to achieve its dual goals: eliminating the twin threats of Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities.
“We have obtained and shared with the United States intelligence that clearly indicates they (Iran) are conducting a covert program to weaponize uranium. Their progress is rapid, and they could manufacture a testing device within months, possibly even sooner. This is the intelligence we have shared with the United States,” Netanyahu said.
Israel has indicated that the strikes against Iran could continue for several weeks. Netanyahu openly urged the Iranian people to rise up and resist the rulers of Iran.
Amos Yadlin, a retired Israeli general and former head of military intelligence, stated in an interview with Fox News Digital that Israel’s continual military actions against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure not only signify military escalation but also mark a strategic shift.
Yadlin, who was one of the masterminds behind Israel’s legendary attack on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981, stated, “It’s time to end the leadership of the evil axis. At the same time, address the primary issue there – the nuclear problem.”
Yadlin did not disclose how long the conflict with Iran may last. While he did not publicly call for regime change in Iran, he suggested that Israel should target not only Iran’s military objectives but also political goals.
(This article is based on reports from Reuters)