Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has defended recent military actions against Iran and militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, claiming they no longer pose significant threats due to Israel’s sustained operations.
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.
“Iran is not the same Iran, Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah, and Hamas is not the same Hamas,” he said, describing them as weakened forces struggling to survive.
He praised Israeli military commanders for their roles in what he described as a “multi-arena campaign,” noting that Israel had intensified both defensive and offensive operations to prevent attacks.
According to Netanyahu, the use of “immense force” against Iran and its allies has yielded “great accomplishments,” pointing to what he called visible cracks in leadership structures in Tehran.
He also referenced the killing of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2024, stating that Israel had significantly reduced the group’s military strength.
“We eliminated Nasrallah and thousands of Hezbollah fighters. We also neutralised a major threat of about 150,000 missiles and rockets intended to target Israeli cities,” he said.
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.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reports indicate that the government is considering inviting the United States to relocate some of its Middle East military bases to Israel and establish new ones after the war.
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 condemned the move, describing it as an unjustified restriction on religious freedom.
“We condemn this unjustified attack on religious freedom and demand that Israel respect diversity of beliefs and international law,” he said.
Similarly, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticised the reported decision, saying it violated the longstanding status quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites and stressing that people of all faiths should be able to worship freely without fear.