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Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
In Ordering Major Attack on Iran, Netanyahu Sheds His Inhibitions
JERUSALEM — Although the outcome of hostilities that erupted this week between Israel and Iran remains uncertain, the scale and audacity of Israel's airstrikes have made one thing clear: Inhibitions that may have constrained Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the past no longer do so. The Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear and military sites, along with the targeted killing of at least a dozen senior military officials and scientists, represents the latest sign of Israel's shift away from a decades-old policy favoring containment, restraint and short wars, according to Middle East analysts. That change has been underway since Oct. 7, 2023, when Israel failed to foresee thousands of Hamas fighters surging out of Gaza and inflicting the worst attack on the country in its history. 'The world needs to understand that in a post-Oct. 7 environment, the Israelis have demonstrated over and over that their tolerance for existential risk is lower,' said Dana Stroul, a senior Pentagon official during the Biden administration. In the past 20 months, the Israel Defense Forces has occupied territory and carried out frequent airstrikes in neighboring Lebanon and Syria, reflecting what Israeli military officials say is a new border security doctrine. Netanyahu has vowed not to cease the military campaign in Gaza until he achieves total victory over Hamas, displaying a tolerance for prolonged conflict that runs against traditional Israeli strategic thinking. And this week, Netanyahu ordered a unilateral strike against Iran that could derail nuclear talks between the Trump administration and Iran. Amid Israeli concerns that Iran is nearing a weapons capability, Israeli military officials said they struck because they believed Iran's nuclear program 'had reached the point of no return.' U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials have assessed that the Iranian leadership has not made the political decision to produce a nuclear weapon. Aaron David Miller, who has advised seven U.S. secretaries of state on the Middle East, said there has been a shift not only within the Israeli security establishment but also within the thinking of Israel's long-serving premier, who once shied away from exercising force but now appears comfortable with leading Israel as a 'regional hegemon.' In 2020, for instance, Netanyahu declined to participate in a U.S. operation to assassinate Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, Iran's top military commander, President Donald Trump has publicly claimed on several occasions. 'He was very risk-averse, very reluctant to use force,' said Miller, who dealt with Netanyahu over a long career at the State Department. 'He was always one step forward, two steps to the side, one step back. Now, he's become risk-ready.' Since Netanyahu launched the operation known as 'Rising Lion' early Friday, he has shown little interest in seeing the Trump administration and Iran return to the negotiating table. Instead, he has spoken of overthrowing the Iranian regime and in a speech exhorted the Iranian people to rise up against their theocratic rulers. On Saturday, Iran said it would cancel the next round of U.S. nuclear talks, which had been scheduled for Sunday in Oman, after accusing the United States of 'complicity' and of helping coordinate the Israeli attack, which destroyed many of Iran's air defenses and missile launchers and decapitated its military leadership. Iranian officials also warned Western countries that it would target the military bases and ships of any country that helps repel its attacks against Israel, the semiofficial Mehr news agency reported Saturday. Such a step would represent a significant escalation and potentially draw Washington into the conflict. After trading missile fire with Iran overnight Friday into early Saturday, Israeli military officials said they had significantly damaged Iranian nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan. In an address Saturday, Netanyahu said Israeli forces would soon establish air superiority over Tehran and would 'hit every target of the ayatollahs' regime' in a protracted conflict. The Israeli security establishment saw how it could impose its will during military activities in the year leading up to this week's conflict with Iran. After Israel's external intelligence service, the Mossad, crippled the ranks of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Israeli air force killed its leader Hasan Nasrallah in September, Israel decided to keep its troops inside southern Lebanon. Israel also moved to block the new Syrian government, which took over in December, from establishing itself as a military power, launching hundreds of airstrikes on strategic stockpiles and demanding that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa demilitarize an entire region running south of Damascus to the Israeli border. Iran, whose network of proxy militant groups and allies stretched across Syria and Lebanon, was also revealed to be vulnerable when Israel launched an aerial attack against it in October. These developments 'changed the thinking in Israel in terms of its capability and taking risks,' said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence official who specialized in Iran and its regional allies. 'When you don't have Syria, when Hamas is nonexistent, and without Hezbollah, you can do almost whatever you want.' But, Citrinowicz warned, Israel had not done enough long-term planning beyond the immediate use of force. 'So we expand [attacks] into [Iran's] energy sector, so we fight a war of attrition that never ends,' he said. 'And then what?' Already, Israel's conflict with Iran has stirred anxieties in the Persian Gulf. Unlike in the past, when Arab countries in the gulf would not have been averse to Israel's fighting their traditional Iranian adversary, they are now putting a premium on regional stability, in large part as a precondition for economic growth, and have become increasingly concerned that Israel's actions may pose the main threat to that stability. In recent months, Saudi Arabia had gone to great lengths to insulate itself from a potential Israel-Iran clash, and the Saudi defense minister had told Iranian leaders during his landmark trip to Tehran in April that the kingdom would not help Israel, directly or indirectly, or allow its airspace to be used by Israel, said Ali Shihabi, a Saudi businessman with close ties to the monarchy. 'It was very important that the Iranians get that message so they don't think that the gulf countries are ganging up with Israel against them,' Shihabi said. On Saturday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by phone to express his condolences for the families of those killed 'as a result of the Israeli aggressions' and 'stressed that these attacks led to the disruption of the ongoing dialogue to resolve the crisis,' according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry. Firas Maksad, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Eurasia Group, said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar were worried that Israel and Iran may be entangled in a prolonged conflict that results in Israel's weakening Iran but not 'finishing the job right.' 'My sense is those countries very strongly preferred diplomacy. But if there was to be conflict, they much prefer it to be decisive,' he said. Miller, the former State Department official, said Netanyahu had demonstrated Israel's military superiority and his willingness to use it — but his Arab neighbors wanted to see him turn that into lasting stability. 'The more Mr. Netanyahu is on a course in which he's not going to translate his escalation dominance into more stable arrangements or peace deals, the more wary they'll become,' he said.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Houthis Say '1000 Leaders' in Store Amid Israel Assassination Strike Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A source within Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, has told Newsweek that the group would persist in its battle with Israel after reports that Israeli forces carried out a targeted strike against senior figures at a meeting. The Israeli attack, which comes amid an unprecedented exchange of strikes between Israel and Ansar Allah's Axis of Resistance coalition ally, Iran, was reported by a number of Israeli outlets as well as Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath network. The reports cited unnamed sources suggesting that the target was Ansar Allah military Chief of Staff Mohammed Abdel Karim al-Ghamari. Al-Hadath also reported that Ansar Allah-led Supreme Political Council President Mahdi al-Mashat was also in attendance at the meeting. Their fates have yet to be confirmed. The Ansar Allah source with whom Newsweek spoke to declined to discuss the details of the strike but affirmed that the group was prepared to move forward with its missile and drone campaign against Israel even in the case of losing high-level leaders. "We are all projects of martyrdom, and we are not afraid of being targeted," the Ansar Allah source said. "Every leader is succeeded by a thousand leaders." Newsweek has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for comment. Ansar Allah has fired dozens of missiles and drones at Israel since October 2023, intervening in support of the Palestinian Hamas movement after it launched a surprise attack on Israel. The ensuing conflict sparked a still-ongoing war that has spread across the Middle East, drawing in Iran and allies non-state allies across the region. Rising tensions over the conflict took a dramatic new turn this week when Israel launched a sweeping and unprecedented series of strikes across Iran. The operating, dubbed "Rising Lion," has involved hundreds of attacks targeting facilities and personnel tied to Iran's armed forces and nuclear program. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Shafaq News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Renewed protests erupt in Baghdad over Israeli strikes on Iran
Shafaq News/ Fresh demonstrations have erupted in the Iraqi capital as supporters of pro-Iranian armed factions denounce Israel's Rising Lion military operation targeting Iranian territory. According to a security source, the protests broke out near the Suspension Bridge in central Baghdad, with demonstrators condemning the Israeli airstrikes on Iran and expressing anger over the alleged use of Iraqi airspace during the operation. The protests follow yesterday's rally, in which dozens of supporters of Iraqi armed factions gathered in central Baghdad to denounce Israel's Operation Rising Lion, which targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and military infrastructure. Factions such as Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Harakat al-Nujaba have previously accused the United States of enabling the Israeli campaign by allowing Israeli aircraft to pass through Iraqi skies. Several of these groups have called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to take a firmer stance on protecting Iraqi sovereignty and to expel US forces from the country.
United News of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Years of preparation went into 'Rising Lion' ops against Iran: Israeli Minister
Tel Aviv/Tehran, June 14 (UNI) Israel's military strikes on Iran, code-named 'Rising Lion', were the result of years of preparation and mark just the beginning of what's to come, Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli said in an interview with Eye for Iran. 'This operation took years to prepare,' Chikli told Eye for Iran. 'It's the very hard walk of the IDF intelligence, the Mossad... thousands of people are involved in this.' 'This is just the beginning,' he said, without disclosing operational details or how the mission might continue. Iran launched over 200 missiles at Israel injuring at least 14 people after Israeli attacks killed its top military leadership and pounded armed forces and nuclear sites leaving scores of Iranians dead. While Israel's initial strikes hit key nuclear sites like Natanz and Fordow, Iran's nuclear infrastructure spans dozens of locations. According to Israeli assessments, further strikes will likely be needed to eliminate what is seen as an existential threat, Iran International reported. Chikli said the objective was not regime change, but to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. While many Iranians have called on Israel to help bring down the Islamic Republic, he said meaningful change must come from within. 'This is the time to seize the moment and to try and take back your country from the Revolutionary Guards," said Chikli, "Will Iranians use this moment to change the course of history, or not?' Dr. Eric Mandel, a Middle East analyst and advisor to US and Israeli defense officials, told Eye for Iran that this moment marks the Islamic Republic's deepest vulnerability since its founding in 1979—one of the most consequential events in modern Iranian and Middle Eastern history. 'Iran is at its weakest in 46 years,' said Mandel, who directs the Middle East Political and Information Network (MEPIN). He says Trump now faces a defining choice—retreat into isolationism or use Israeli military action as leverage for long-term strategic change. 'The big question is, what will President Trump do? Not what the Israelis will do. What will the president do with what Israel has handed to them?' Mandel suggests that one option remains on the table: a US strike on Iran's deeply fortified enrichment site. Israeli Minister Chikli said the operation's name, Rising Lion, came from both Iran's original flag and a verse from the Book of Numbers: 'A nation that rises like a lion.' "We believe this is a moment not just for security—but for shared history and future peace.' UNI ANV RN
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran calls US nuclear talks ‘meaningless' after Israel attack
Iranian officials on Saturday signaled they could walk back their decision to not attend upcoming nuclear talks with the U.S., but said further negotiations were likely 'meaningless' as the nation exchanges fire with Israel. Esmaeil Baghaei, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters it is 'still unclear what decision we will make for Sunday,' according to Reuters. 'The other side [the U.S.] acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran's territory,' Baghaei added, per the news wire. The sixth round of talks between the U.S. and Iran is scheduled to talk place in Oman on Sunday. Following tit-for-tat strikes, including Israel's initial surprise attack on Thursday, Tehran announced it would pull out of the talks. 'Israel's unilateral attack on Iran is illegal, unjustifiable and a grave threat to regional stability,' Oman Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi posted on the social platform X after the attacks. 'I condemn it and urge the global community to come together to reject Israeli aggression and support de-escalation and diplomacy with one voice,' he wrote. Iranian officials cast some blame on the Trump administration for Israel's attack, accusing the U.S. of allowing the strike to happen. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied involvement in the initial attacks, but the U.S. has stepped up to help Israel intercept missiles from Tehran. President Trump told Reuters Friday that the U.S. 'knew everything' about Israel's 'Operation 'Rising Lion'' — targeting nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites — before the strikes took place. He also in recent days said he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that launching an attack would complicate nuclear deal negotiations. 'We knew everything, and I tried to save Iran humiliation and death. I tried to save them very hard because I would have loved to have seen a deal worked out,' Trump told the outlet. 'They can still work out a deal, however, it's not too late,' he added. The U.S. leader has urged Iran to recommit to a deal that would require the nation to dismantle nuclear developments. 'There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,' Trump wrote early Friday on Truth Social. 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' he continued. 'No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.' The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has already killed several high-ranking Iranian officials and nine engineers tied to nuclear programs. Iran responded to the initial strikes with a counteroffensive, while promising to enact further plans for retaliation, calling the initial strike a 'declaration of war.' 'With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself up for a bitter and painful fate, and it will receive it,' Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in remarks released through state media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
