Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel Political Unity on Iran War Fractures, Opposition Warns of 'Security Disaster'

Israel's opposition on Thursday signalled an end to the political consensus over the war against Iran — a conflict the military now says requires far more combat troops, particularly on the Lebanese front. "I want to warn the citizens of Israel. We are facing another security disaster," the country's main opposition leader and head of the ...

What is Israel’s Invasion Calculus in Lebanon?

Israel appears poised to dramatically expand its invasion in southern Lebanon, with troops pushing deeper into the country as officials increasingly adopt rhetoric about establishing a buffer zone. On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told local officials in northern Israel that the military was working to expand a “security ...

Hezbollah Rejects Truce Talks as Israel Presses Lebanon Strikes

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said negotiations with Israel under fire would amount to "surrender", as the Iran-backed group launched attacks and Israel said it was expanding a "buffer zone" inside Lebanon. Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for around two decades until 2000, has kept up strikes on its northern neighbour and sent ground troops ...

Netanyahu Announces Expansion of Security Zone as Israel Steps Up Lebanon Operations

Tensions escalated on Wednesday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of Israel’s security zone along the northern border, according to Israeli media outlet Ynet. Speaking to northern Israeli local leaders, Netanyahu said the buffer zone will “distance the anti-tank threat” from Israeli communities and prevent ...

Trump Sends Peace Plan as Iran Opens to 'Non-Hostile' Oil Vessels

US President Donald Trump sent a peace plan to Iran as he voiced optimism Tuesday at ending nearly a month of warfare, with Tehran announcing that it will let "non-hostile" oil vessels go through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The tentative signs of a diplomatic solution came despite new violence, with an Iranian missile causing injuries ...

Israel Launches Wave of Strikes on South Lebanon, Hits Bridge

Israel said it struck Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon on Sunday shortly after the military was ordered to destroy bridges used by the Iran-backed militant group across the Litani River. Lebanese official media reported Israeli raids in several areas of the south, while an AFP correspondent saw smoke billowing from a key bridge that was hit ...

Iranian Missiles Sow Panic, Destruction in Israeli Towns

Sheltering from an Iranian missile attack on his town in southern Israel on Saturday, 17-year-old Ido Franky heard "terrifying" blasts like nothing he had experienced before. An Iranian missile hit Franky's town of Arad, hours after another struck Dimona -- home to a nuclear facility -- wounding dozens and leaving entire apartment ...

Trump Gives Iran 48 Hours to Open Hormuz as Tehran Strikes Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure, as Tehran launched its most destructive attack yet on Israel. The ultimatum, made just a day after the U.S. leader said he was considering "winding down" military operations after ...

Mossad Chief Tells Israeli Leadership Regime Change in Iran is Possible, Sources Say

Mossad Director David Barnea reportedly assessed in meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government prior to the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that it could be possible to topple the Iranian regime, according to Israeli media. Citing multiple unnamed sources, Barnea outlined that if the operation achieved ...

Netanyahu Issues Directive Allowing Strikes Without Prior Authorization

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a change in operational directives to the IDF and Mossad, granting advance authorization to carry out targeted killings of senior Iranian and Hezbollah officials without prior political approval when time-sensitive intelligence emerges, according to Israel’s Channel 12 News. The directive aims to ...

Israeli Army Begins "Limited Ground Operations" against Hezbollah

The Israeli army said on Monday it had begun “limited ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The move comes after a night of direct clashes in Khiam in south Lebanon’s Marjayoun district and days of heavy missile fire. Israel’s military spokesman said in a statement, “troops from the 91st ...

Israel Cuts Bridge Over Litani River

Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon on Friday, targeting multiple areas including a bridge over the Litani river that it said Hezbollah had been using as a passageway for its fighters. The raids came after Israel threatened to also carry out a ground operation to disarm Hezbollah if the Lebanese government does not do so. The Lebanon-based ...