Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war against Iran was “not going to take years”, as the conflict widened with Israel again attacking the Iranian backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Iran striking Gulf states that host United States (US) bases.
US President Donald Trump, who launched strikes on Iran together with Israel on Saturday, initially projected the war to last four to five weeks, but has since sought to justify a broad, open ended war.
In the meantime, Iran has launched missile and drone strikes against not only Israel and US forces but also a host of countries across the region that are allied to the US, paralysing globally vital energy shipments from the Gulf along with hundreds of busy short and long-haul flight routes.
Netanyahu rejected the idea of the conflict lasting years, like previous wars in the region.
“I said it could be quick and decisive. It may take some time, but it’s not going to take years. It’s not an endless war,” Netanyahu said on Fox News’ “Hannity” program on Monday.
Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told an online briefing that the duration of the military campaign could change, depending on developments, adding: “We have prepared a general scope of weeks.”
Asked if Israel could deploy ground forces to Iran, Shoshani said that was unlikely.
Explosions shook buildings across Tel Aviv as air defences intercepted incoming Iranian missiles.
Israel attacked the Tehran complex of Iran’s state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in Tehran and Hezbollah militants in towns across Lebanon.
The Israeli military said it had sent more troops into southern Lebanon and positioned them at points near the border as part of “forward defence”.
After its November 2024 ceasefire with Hezbollah, a Shi’ite militia that serves as an Iranian proxy force, Israel kept ground troops in Lebanon at five vantage points.
Early on Tuesday, two drones, apparently from Iran, struck the US embassy in Riyadh, causing minor damage and starting a fire, and at least eight more drones were intercepted before reaching the city, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said.
–Reuters—
