Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended Israel's recent military actions against Iran and militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Netanyahu made the remarks on Sunday during a visit to the IDF Northern Command, alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. According to Netanyahu, Israel's sustained operations have weakened Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas, rendering them less significant threats.
Netanyahu praised Israeli military commanders for their roles in what he described as a "multi-arena campaign." He noted that Israel had intensified both defensive and offensive operations to prevent attacks. The Israeli Prime Minister pointed to what he called visible cracks in leadership structures in Tehran and highlighted the killing of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2024 as a significant accomplishment. Netanyahu stated that Israel had eliminated Nasrallah and thousands of Hezbollah fighters, neutralising a major threat of about 150,000 missiles and rockets intended to target Israeli cities.
However, Netanyahu acknowledged that Hezbollah still retains some capacity to launch rockets, adding that discussions with military leaders are ongoing to fully eliminate the threat. The developments have drawn criticism from European leaders, particularly over allegations that Israeli authorities prevented Catholics from observing Palm Sunday in Jerusalem. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the move, describing it as an unjustified restriction on religious freedom.
The criticism from European leaders over Israel's handling of religious freedom in Jerusalem may have implications for the country's international relations. Netanyahu's assertion that Israel's military actions have weakened Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas could be seen as an attempt to justify the country's military stance. The reported decision to invite the United States to relocate some of its Middle East military bases to Israel may also have significant geopolitical implications.
