Netanyahu: Israel Overwhelmingly Dominating Iran and Hezbollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Thursday that the joint US-Israeli campaign was having a devastating impact on Iran and its ally Hezbollah, and he urged the Iranian people to rise up against their government.

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Netanyahu made these remarks shortly after Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new leader, issued his first statement, in which he pledged to avenge the deaths of Iranians in the ongoing conflict.

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During a televised media briefing, Netanyahu stated, "We are crushing Iran and Hezbollah," as he outlined his strategy to use the conflict to bring about the downfall of the clerical regime in Tehran.

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Netanyahu's objectives, he explained, included preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, destroying its ballistic missile capabilities, and creating conditions that would allow the Iranian people to overthrow their government.

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The Israeli leader also called on the Lebanese government to restrain Hezbollah, warning that if it failed to do so, Israel would take action, and he cautioned that continued attacks by the militant group would be met with severe consequences.

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Netanyahu's warning came as Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of attacks against Israel, including one targeting an air defence system near Caesarea, where the Israeli leader's private residence is located.

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Israel has threatened to target Lebanese government infrastructure if Hezbollah's attacks persist, and Netanyahu personally addressed Iran's new leader, saying, "We eliminated the old tyrant, and the new tyrant, the puppet of the Revolutionary Guards, can't show his face in public."

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Khamenei's first statement as Iran's new leader was read out by a TV presenter, as he has not appeared in public himself.