Israel crushing Iran, forging alliances with key West Asia states: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday hailed what he called “enormous accomplishments” in the ongoing war against Iran, asserting that the joint Israel-US campaign is “systematically crushing” the Islamic regime and removing existential threats to Israel.

Addressing the nation in Hebrew ahead of Passover, Netanyahu said Israel is “stronger than ever” and claimed the Iranian regime is “weaker than ever” and ultimately destined to fall.

“On the eve of this Festival of Freedom, Israel is stronger than ever. The entire world hears our lion’s roar in our struggle against the evil regime in Iran,” he said, marking one month of coordinated operations with the United States.

Netanyahu also hinted at emerging regional partnerships, saying Israel is forging “new alliances with important countries in the region” against the threat from Tehran, though he did not name specific nations.

The address came amid national mourning following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in ground operations in Lebanon. Netanyahu acknowledged the “painful costs” of the campaign while defending its strategic gains.

He accused Iran of pursuing regional dominance through nuclear and missile programmes, support for proxy groups, and long-standing hostility toward Israel and the United States. “Over the years, all of this has cost Iran nearly a trillion dollars. And now it can be said: that trillion has gone down the drain,” he claimed.

Drawing a parallel to the Passover story, Netanyahu said Israel had inflicted “ten plagues” on what he described as the “axis of evil”, including major blows to Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the Houthis in Yemen.

He further claimed Israel had significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear programme, missile capabilities, infrastructure, and leadership, naming figures including supreme leader Ali Khamenei and senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guard.

Netanyahu reiterated that the campaign is “not yet over” but said global awareness of the Iranian threat has grown, with some leaders now privately acknowledging the danger and, in some cases, taking action.

He also highlighted close coordination with the United States, saying the joint campaign has dealt “crushing blows” to Tehran and left the regime “shaken”.

However, the speech drew criticism at home. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Netanyahu’s remarks “arrogant”, accusing him of deepening internal divisions and focusing on controversial domestic measures, including a disputed budget and a proposed death penalty law.

Some Israeli analysts suggested the speech may be aimed at preparing the public for a potential shift in strategy, amid indications that US President Donald Trump could decide to halt the campaign, claiming its objectives have largely been achieved.

With PTI inputs