Netanyahu: Iran War Won’t Take Years

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the expanding U.S.-Israel war against Iran would not become a protracted conflict, rejecting comparisons with earlier regional wars. Speaking Monday on Fox News’ “Hannity,” Netanyahu stated, “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.” The remarks came as the conflict entered its fourth day on Tuesday, following the start of U.S. and Israeli air operations against Tehran on Saturday.

U.S. President Donald Trump had initially projected a timeline of four to five weeks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that “the hardest hits are yet to come from the U.S. military,” while adding that Washington believed its objectives — “the destruction of their ballistic missile capabilities, both launch capibilities and manufacturing” — could be achieved without ground forces. Rubio noted, “Right now we are not postured for ground forces,” but did not rule out that option.

The conflict has widened geographically. Explosions shook buildings across Tel Aviv as Israeli air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles. Israel struck the complex housing Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran and targeted Hezbollah militants across towns in Lebanon.

Early Tuesday, two drones, apparently launched from Iran, struck the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, causing minor damage and a fire, while at least eight additional drones were intercepted before reaching the Saudi capital, the Saudi Defense Ministry said. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated Tuesday that its naval forces had destroyed the main command building of a U.S. airbase in Bahrain in what it described as the 14th wave of “Operation Promise of the Truth 4.” According to the IRGC statement, 20 drones and three missiles were launched at the base in the Sheikh Isa area, striking intended targets. The U.S. State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Netanyahu framed the campaign as preemptive and strategic. He argued Iran had begun constructing “new sites, new places, underground bunkers that would make their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb program immune within months,” adding, “If no action was taken now, no action could be taken in the future.” He also asserted that “Ninety-five percent of all the problems you see in the Middle East are generated by Iran.”

The opening strikes on Saturday killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah that has drawn in multiple Gulf states and resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths across Iran, Israel, Lebanon and other countries. Netanyahu dismissed suggestions that he had drawn Trump into the war, responding, “Well, you’re right. That’s ridiculous.” He maintained, “This is not an endless war,” and described the campaign as one that would “usher in an era of peace we haven’t even seen before.”