Netanyahu Orders Military And Mossad To Target Iran Leadership
- There is only one way to put an end to this matter, which is to drop the regime, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced a...
- Netanyahu stated during his address that Iran previously wanted to destroy Israel and build nuclear weapons, asserting that his government stopped those efforts but that the Iranian leadership...
- Expanding on the scope of the strategy, Netanyahu asserted that allied forces would cut off both the head of the octopus and its arms, referencing Hamas in the...
There is only one way to put an end to this matter, which is to drop the regime, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who announced a directive to the Israel Defense Forces and the Mossad during a political gathering in Dimona on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Netanyahu stated during his address that Iran previously wanted to destroy Israel and build nuclear weapons, asserting that his government stopped those efforts but that the Iranian leadership insists on continuing. He added that Mojtaba Khamenei has decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war, and accused Tehran of attempting to develop lethal bombs again after restrictions were lifted. The Israeli prime minister maintained that as long as the Iranian government seeks the destruction of Israel, a fundamental existential threat remains, echoing remarks he attributed to his close friend, United States President Donald Trump.
Expanding on the scope of the strategy, Netanyahu asserted that allied forces would cut off both the head of the octopus and its arms, referencing Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Echoing those security concerns in a separate speech to graduating officers in southern Israel on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the Iranian regime is at its weakest point ever, noting that this vulnerability might push leaders toward extreme actions. Katz cautioned that if Iran attacks Israel, the country will burn.
Israel Air Force Executes Long-Range Drill Near Iranian Border
The diplomatic rhetoric follows a major show of military strength earlier in the week. The Israeli Air Force carried out a wide-scale aerial drill on Monday, involving dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers that flew a distance exceeding 800 miles to reach a pathway close to the Iranian border through Syrian and Iraqi airspace. U.S. and Israeli sources indicated that the operation was designed to deter Tehran and display military readiness amid rising regional tensions.
Reporting by Axios detailed that the flight path simulated a potential attack on Iranian infrastructure, though the aircraft turned back as they approached the border. U.S. officials stated that Israel informed Washington of the operation beforehand, acknowledging that Iranian air defense systems would detect the movement. The drill coincided with a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Israel, where he met with Netanyahu at Ovda Airbase, though American and Israeli officials maintained the exercise was not directly tied to the defense secretary’s visit.
Donald Trump Blocks Expanded Pre-Election Strike Plans
Behind the public displays of deterrence, friction has emerged over the timing of potential military action. According to a report published by the Financial Times, Netanyahu directed the Israeli military earlier in the month to plan a major new offensive against Iran, designed to take place over several days around the weekend of October 10. The proposed campaign reportedly involved heavy bombing of Iranian civil infrastructure, including power stations, alongside nuclear and military installations, but was ultimately shelved due to opposition from President Donald Trump.
Sources indicated that the U.S. president opposed launching a large-scale war ahead of the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November 3. While one source suggested that a resumption of joint strikes in the coming weeks remains a possibility depending on whether a comprehensive diplomatic agreement can be reached over nuclear developments and maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, another noted that the final decision rests firmly with Washington. Meanwhile, Euronews reported that Netanyahu estimated Israel has completed 90 percent of its military objectives against Iran and its regional proxies since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, while emphasizing that preventing Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program remains the foremost security priority.
Netanyahu stated that about a year ago, Iran was on the verge of developing several atomic bombs, and that if it were not for Israeli action in Operation Rising Lion and subsequently in Operation Visiting Lion, Iran would have possessed atomic bombs to destroy Israel.
Security Alert Levels and Regional Stakes Ahead of Election
The diplomatic and military moves unfold against the backdrop of domestic political events in Israel, where legislative elections are slated for October 27. The Israeli military has maintained an elevated state of readiness for weeks, canceling all soldier leaves starting Thursday through the conclusion of the voting period to ensure secure and orderly democratic elections. Current and former security officials have expressed concern that military action near the polling date could complicate the political transition, given that a caretaker government under Netanyahu would retain legal authority to wage war even if voted out.
Furthermore, Euronews noted that Israeli intelligence agencies, including the Mossad and military intelligence, have issued warnings regarding potential efforts by Iran and its allies to disrupt the electoral process or undermine public confidence in national security. Netanyahu warned in a recent interview that any such interference would draw a severe response, stating that hostile actors wish to see his government defeated. With the October 27 election date fast approaching, the intersection of military deterrence, nuclear containment policies, and political transitions continues to shape security calculations across the region.