Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday at the Israel Air Force flight course graduation ceremony that if Israel had not acted, Iran would have armed itself with nuclear weapons. He also responded to President Trump's statements, asserting that Israel will remain in the southern Lebanon security buffer zone as long as necessary, according to reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the Israeli strikes on Iran at the Israel Air Force flight course graduation ceremony Thursday evening, stating that if Israel had not acted, Iran would now have nuclear weapons. He also reaffirmed that Israel will remain in the southern Lebanon security buffer zone as long as necessary, in remarks that build on his earlier statements at the same event.
The Zioneer's first reports from the ceremony, published at 18:05 Jerusalem, focused on Netanyahu's commitment to the Lebanon buffer zone. Minutes later, additional details emerged at the same timestamp, including his description of the moment he authorized the Iran strikes as 'one of the most moving moments' of his life, and his calling the graduates 'the generation of victory.' The new statements add a direct strategic justification for the strike — preventing a nuclear Iran — and have been corroborated by multiple news outlets, including Ynet.
Netanyahu has consistently maintained that Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons under his leadership. As The Zioneer reported on June 30, he warned that Israel is prepared to strike a third time if necessary. On June 15, he stated that Iran would not get nuclear weapons with or without a U.S.-Iran deal. The commitment to the Lebanon buffer zone has also been a recurring theme, with Netanyahu vowing to keep forces there as long as needed, amid U.S. pressure to withdraw, as The Zioneer reported on June 24.
No official response from the White House or Iran has been reported yet. The exact wording of Netanyahu's nuclear justification — whether a direct quote or paraphrased by reporters — remains to be confirmed by an official transcript.
3 developments
- ConfirmedNetanyahu: Israel will stay in security buffer zones as long as needed to defend itself
- StrongNetanyahu: Iran will not get nuclear weapons — with or without a deal
- StrongNetanyahu to troops in Lebanon: 'We're not leaving until the threat is gone — a punch to the Iranian axis'
- StrongNetanyahu at brother's memorial: We'll stay in Lebanon buffer zone as long as needed
Source and signal
- Internal intake