Netanyahu Highlights 'Warm' Discussion with Trump on Achieving 'Victory' Over Iran
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Tel Aviv, Dec 16 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump regarding Israel's unwavering resolve to act against Iran and its armed affiliates whenever they pose a threat to the Jewish nation, the premier declared in a video address.
Netanyahu described the discussion on Sunday evening as a “very friendly, very warm, and very significant conversation” emphasizing the necessity for Israel to “achieve complete victory”.
“Our commitment is to prevent Hezbollah from rearming,” he stated.
“This is an ongoing challenge for Israel, and we must rise to it -- and we will. I warn Hezbollah and Iran unequivocally -- to safeguard ourselves, we will persist in our actions against you as needed, in every domain and at all times,” he added.
Netanyahu reaffirmed that recent airstrikes targeting Syrian military locations were executed to ensure that these weapons would not be utilized against Israel in the future. He also mentioned that Israel targeted arms supply lines to Hezbollah.
“We have no desire for conflict with Syria,” Netanyahu asserted.
“We will shape Israel's policy towards Syria based on the evolving reality on the ground,” he further explained.
“Syria is not the same Syria,” he remarked, claiming that Israel is transforming the Middle East.
“Lebanon is not the same Lebanon, Gaza is not the same Gaza, and the leader of the axis -- Iran -- is not the same Iran,” he stated.
During his conversation with Trump, Netanyahu pointed out changes in the Middle East, asserting that Israeli operations in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Syria have reduced Iran's influence in the past year.
“In just a few days, we dismantled capabilities that the Assad regime had developed over decades,” Netanyahu noted, referencing a series of intense Israeli airstrikes following the collapse of the Assad government in Syria on December 8.
He emphasized that the strikes were aimed at preventing weapons from being used against Israel or being transferred from Syria to Hezbollah.
Netanyahu also mentioned that his dialogue with Trump included discussions on efforts to secure the release of around 100 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Israeli state broadcaster Kan TV reported progress in negotiations but noted that no significant breakthrough had been achieved as of Sunday.
