Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Thursday to strike all of Iran’s nuclear facilities and claimed his country is “ahead of schedule” in its military operations against Iran.
Netanyahu made the comments during an interview with local media, during which he gave updates on Israel’s recent military campaigns. He highlighted how Israeli airstrikes killed much of Iran’s military leadership and took out strategic targets, the Times of Israel reported.
“We are ahead of the schedule we set, both in terms of timing and results,” Netanyahu said. “The work has been outstanding.”
Netanyahu’s comments came after a destructive day in the Iran-Israel conflict. The Israeli Air Force targeted two strategic facilities for Iran’s nuclear development program on Wednesday.
“We’re also striking the Basij … this kind of internal police force of a million people,” Netanyahu said. “We’ve inflicted heavy damage, and we will continue to strike their targets.”
Meanwhile, Iran fired a missile that hit Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel, causing significant damage to the building. Iran claimed it had hit the hospital by mistake and intended to strike a military target nearby, presumably the Southern Command base for the Israel Defense Forces. Israel claimed the strike was intentional because the base was located over 2 kilometers, or 1.2 miles, from the hospital. Israel accused Iran of committing war crimes.
Netanyahu also reported that Israel had eliminated half of Iran’s missile launchers and will eventually target all of the country’s nuclear development areas, including the much heralded Fordow nuclear facility, according to the Times of Israel.
Additionally, Netanyahu was asked about aiding in a possible regime change in Iran, including the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, he dismissed the question and said that he believed it was up to the Iranian people to implement a change in government if that was what they desired, the Times of Israel reported. Netanyahu emphasized that any regime change in the country is the responsibility of the “Iranian people alone.”
IRAN STARTED IT, ISRAEL CAN END IT, AND THE US SHOULD HELP
As for military strikes, Netanyahu assured that Israel would accomplish all of its goals, including ending Iran’s desire to build a nuclear weapon. This included striking Iran’s much-fortified Fordow nuclear facility, which is underground. In his response, Netanyahu did not seem concerned that Fordow was impenetrable.
“We will achieve all our objectives and hit all of their nuclear facilities,” Israel’s prime minister said. “We have the capability to do that.”
