Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has issued a veiled warning to Iran’s leadership as the conflict between US-Israel and Iran continues to intensify.
Speaking at his first press conference since the war began, Netanyahu declined to outline potential actions against Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei or Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, stating he would not “issue life insurance policies” for leaders of what he described as terrorist organisations.
The Israeli leader acknowledged that the joint air campaign conducted with the United States may not lead to the collapse of Iran’s government, but argued the conflict has significantly weakened Tehran.
Key developments:
• Netanyahu said nearly two weeks of bombardment had dealt major blows to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary force.
• Israel confirmed it will continue striking Hezbollah after the Iran-backed group launched attacks on 2 March.
• Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel during the press conference due to incoming Iranian missiles.
• Israel says the war aims to neutralise Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which it views as an existential threat.
Netanyahu said Israel is attempting to create conditions that could weaken Iran’s leadership, but added that any regime change would ultimately have to come from within Iran.
Separately, four crew members aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker have died after the aircraft crashed in western Iraq, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
The Boeing-manufactured refuelling aircraft had been supporting ongoing US operations linked to the war with Iran. Centcom said the crash occurred around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) and is under investigation, with no confirmed hostile or friendly fire involved. A second aircraft operating in the mission landed safely.
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