Netanyahu: We Will Act Against Iran If Necessary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, displayed pieces of an 'Iranian drone' that was shot down by Israel, stating, 'If necessary, Israel will act against Iran,' and added, 'Do not test us.' According to Israeli news agencies, Netanyahu emphasized that his country would not tolerate Iran's military presence in Syria, stating, 'We will not allow the Syrian regime to hang a noose around our neck.' Israel has expressed serious concerns for months about the 'consolidation of Iran's military presence in Syria' and has claimed that Tehran has established a factory for precision missile production for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Damascus and Tehran consider Iran's military presence in Syria legal and based on legitimate Tehran-Damascus agreements, with Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior international advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating last week that Iran's presence in Syria will continue based on these agreements. Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri rejected Israel's claims regarding the missile factory for Hezbollah in Lebanon. In part of his speech, Netanyahu showed a piece of metal he claimed was from an 'Iranian drone' and addressed Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was also attending the Munich conference, saying, 'Do you recognize this? You can take this message back to Tehran that we will not only act against Iran's agents but will also act against Iran itself if necessary.' On February 10, Israel reported the infiltration of an 'Iranian drone' from Syrian airspace into its territory and its subsequent downing. Following this, Israel announced two waves of extensive airstrikes against 'Iranian and Syrian targets' in Syria and confirmed the downing of one of its fighter jets, with both pilots rescued. Iran denied sending a drone into Israeli airspace, while Syria claimed the drone belonged to its army, dispatched from one of its military bases for intelligence gathering against 'terrorist groups.' Syria has warned Israel against further attacks. However, Netanyahu stated that 'the rules for Israel's actions (despite the downing of its fighter jet) have not changed.' Meanwhile, Zarif was not present during Netanyahu's speech. Netanyahu also noted that attendees would soon hear Zarif's remarks, who always speaks 'smoothly' about the Iranian regime. He stated, 'I give Zarif credit for being a skilled speaker, but he lies to you delicately.' According to Netanyahu, 'Iran seeks to dominate Syria and change the fundamental rules in the region... but Israel will not allow this.' Habib Hosseini-Fard, an international affairs expert residing in Germany, described Netanyahu's speech in Munich as 'a continuation of his efforts in recent years to completely dismantle Iran's nuclear program and, by extension, eliminate any possibility that Iran could potentially disrupt the strategic power balance in the region, which still favors Israel.' He added that 'Tehran does not back down from its slogan of destroying Israel.' Hosseini-Fard also mentioned that 'part of Netanyahu's recent propaganda efforts and his framing against the Islamic Republic is aimed at limiting Iran's influence in the region, including in Syria and Lebanon, and dismantling Iran's military capabilities near Israel's borders. In such circumstances, statements from the IRGC commander that Iran has established resistance cells in all regional countries or recent remarks by General Soleimani that the best response to Israel for killing Imad Mughniyeh is the destruction of this country, effectively provide new grounds for Netanyahu's propaganda attacks.' Previously, Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, had stated last week in Tehran that the 'destruction of Israel' is 'inevitable.' Hosseini-Fard characterized Netanyahu's statements at the Munich conference as more of an effort to exert pressure on Europe, Russia, and China rather than preparing for war against Iran, suggesting that they should cooperate with the Trump administration in reopening the JCPOA file and imposing further restrictions against Iran's nuclear program, as well as taking action against Iran's missile program and regional policies through sanctions and similar leverage. This international affairs expert believes that 'the Trump administration is currently moving in a direction favorable to Netanyahu, but to exert more pressure on Iran, it is necessary for the Europeans to join in, which they have shown signs of doing. Netanyahu's promotion of the Iranian threat allows him to present himself in Israeli public opinion as the best guardian of national security, overshadowing corruption allegations and internal pressures for his removal, or sidelining his government's negative and evasive policies regarding peace with the Palestinians, which can also be seen as secondary motivations.' Meanwhile, Israeli television network i24 reported on Saturday that Avigdor Lieberman, the country's defense minister, stated last week in a city council meeting, in response to a question about whether Israel had considered attacking Iran in the recent northern confrontation, 'I do not remember this issue.'