Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that the collapse of Iran’s Islamic Republic was imminent, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. During a visit to Israeli troops on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, Netanyahu emphasized that while there remains work to be done, dismantling Iran’s “terror regime” is Israel’s primary goal. He expressed confidence that Iran’s extensive network of regional allies would eventually disintegrate.
Netanyahu was accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz during his visit, as Israeli forces have maintained a presence in southern Syria since the downfall of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The Israeli military has occupied areas that were once part of a UN-monitored buffer zone, which previously separated Syrian and Israeli forces near the Golan Heights, a region under Israeli occupation. The Prime Minister reiterated Israel’s stance against allowing what he described as a terrorist army to establish itself along its border.
Since the fall of Assad, Israel has conducted numerous strikes within Syria and has frequently deployed forces into Syrian territory. This military presence has been condemned by Damascus as an infringement on Syria’s sovereignty. However, Israel maintains that it seeks to uphold a security zone and is advocating for a broader demilitarized area in southern Syria.
Netanyahu’s comments on Iran surface amid a larger confrontation involving Tehran and Washington over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing Middle East conflict has seen both sides engage in a series of retaliatory attacks, further heightening regional tensions.