Overview
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel’s military leadership on Thursday that overthrowing Iran’s ruling leadership is the country’s central remaining mission and said that goal is "within reach."
- He spoke at a pre‑Rosh Hashanah toast at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv and argued Iran is "faltering" and has refrained from striking Israel because it assesses Israeli military strength.
- Reporting notes the United States has resumed strikes on Iran and that Iran has struck U.S. allies in the Gulf, Jordan and Iraq’s Kurdistan region while, by Israeli accounts, not directly attacking Israel.
- Netanyahu also visited troops in the Gaza Strip this week, rejected withdrawing forces and said Israel controls about 60% of the Strip, remarks that underscore his security-first message ahead of the October 27 general election.
- Coverage ties the push to a multi-year campaign Israel calls the 'War of Redemption' and cites reporting from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on Feb. 28 and that other regime figures have been targeted, a claim described in sources as reported rather than independently verified.