Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel is “crushing” Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as the conflict in the Middle East continues to intensify.
Netanyahu made the remark during a televised press briefing on Thursday, where he highlighted Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran and its regional allies.
“We are crushing Iran and Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said while addressing reporters.
His comments came shortly after a statement from Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly vowed retaliation for Iranians killed during the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli leader also called on the Iranian population to challenge their government, urging them to rise against the Islamic Republic’s leadership as hostilities between the two countries escalate.
The conflict has intensified following coordinated strikes by Israel and the United States targeting Iranian military infrastructure and leadership as part of a broader campaign aimed at weakening Tehran’s influence in the region.
Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks, while Hezbollah — widely regarded as one of Tehran’s key regional allies — has launched rockets toward northern Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes on positions in Lebanon.
The escalating hostilities mark one of the most serious confrontations in the region in recent years, raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict involving multiple state and non-state actors.
Despite the intensifying violence, Netanyahu insisted that Israeli forces are continuing their operations aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities and curbing the influence of its allied militant groups.
