Israel-Iran War: Netanyahu Vows Continued Strikes, Regime Change Talk Heats Up

The US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran continued unabated on Saturday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring the “moment of truth” was nearing for Iranians to overthrow their government. The escalating conflict has expanded beyond Iran’s borders, with missile exchanges impacting neighboring countries and disrupting regional air traffic.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported striking what it described as Iran’s two “most central” ballistic missile sites, and, in a significant escalation, oil infrastructure in Tehran. US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters, stated the war “will continue for a while longer,” referencing the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas as evidence of the Iranian regime’s “evil.”

Tehran responded with a dozen missile volleys directed at Israel, causing no injuries. A missile strike reportedly damaged a home in Lod, Israel. Further attacks extended to the Gulf region, resulting in one fatality in Dubai from a missile strike. The Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon also engaged in cross-border attacks in support of Tehran.

Netanyahu’s comments signaled a shift in rhetoric, explicitly advocating for regime change. He stated Israel has “an organized plan with many surprises” to “destabilize the regime, to enable change,” and predicted the overthrow of the Islamic Republic would lead to peace between Israel and Iran. He directly addressed the Iranian people, stating, “It depends on you” to oust the current government.

Israeli officials reportedly expressed “optimism” about the possibility of the Iranian regime’s collapse, citing disagreements among top officials, particularly between President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Revolutionary Guards, as well as a lack of coordination in decision-making. A senior Israeli official, quoted by Channel 12, stated, “As long as the price paid by the [Israeli] home front keeps going down, and there aren’t US losses, Israel and the US are continuing with full force.”

The succession to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war, is reportedly underway. Hossein Mozafari of Iran’s Assembly of Experts stated the clerical body would select a replacement within a day. Israeli security officials believe Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leader’s son, is a front-runner, despite reportedly being wounded in a recent airstrike.

The IDF confirmed strikes on several Iranian fuel depots in Tehran, asserting they served Iran’s military. The strikes targeted facilities involved in the production of explosives and missile components. The military also reported hitting a ballistic missile production site in Shahrud, where, according to IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, “most of the missiles fired at Israel were manufactured.”

President Trump detailed the extent of US military action, claiming 42 Iranian navy ships had been “knocked out” in three days, along with much of the Iranian air force and communications infrastructure. He reiterated his view that Iran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons and justified the military action as a preventative measure. Trump also conflated Iran with Hamas, referencing the October 7 attacks and alleging atrocities committed by Iranian-backed forces.

The conflict’s impact extended to Gulf states, with Iran firing missiles at multiple countries despite a recent apology from President Pezeshkian to regional neighbors. A UAE national was killed in Dubai by debris from an intercepted ballistic missile. Qatar and Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting missiles, while Kuwait announced a precautionary cut to crude oil production due to threats to the Strait of Hormuz.

Jordan accused Iran of directly targeting its territory, claiming 119 missiles and drones had been fired at the kingdom in the past week. Much of the region’s airspace remains closed, disrupting air travel and leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. The US State Department reported that 28,000 US citizens had safely left the Middle East since the outbreak of hostilities.

Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s solidarity with countries targeted by Iran and asserted that “many nations” are seeking cooperation with Israel due to its strength. He criticized the United Nations and Western leaders for what he described as a lack of condemnation of Iran and support for the Iranian people.

The IDF has dropped over 7,500 bombs on Iran in the past week, more than double the number used during a 12-day conflict last June. The military assesses that the recent strikes have significantly damaged Iran’s missile production capabilities and set the country back years, also harming its ability to arm regional proxies.