Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Wednesday that Israel is on the verge of toppling Iran’s Islamic Republic amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East. During a visit to Israeli troops stationed on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu emphasized that while there remains work to be done, dismantling what he termed Iran’s “terror regime” is Israel’s primary goal. He also forecasted the eventual collapse of Iran’s broader network of regional allies.
Netanyahu’s visit was alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, with Israeli forces maintaining a presence in southern Syria since the overthrow of longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. These forces have occupied areas that were once part of a UN-patrolled buffer zone, which separated Israeli and Syrian forces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stance against allowing a so-called terrorist army to establish a foothold along its border.
Since Assad’s fall, Israel has conducted numerous strikes in Syria and has repeatedly sent forces into Syrian territory. Damascus has condemned Israel’s military presence, labeling it a violation of Syria’s sovereignty. In contrast, Israel has justified its actions by citing security concerns and has called for an expanded demilitarized zone in southern Syria.
Netanyahu’s recent comments on Iran coincide with heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Both nations have been engaged in exchanges of attacks amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, further complicating an already volatile situation in the region.