Jerusalem, September 2026 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday visited Israeli troops operating inside Syria and claimed that Israel now has “absolute control” over a large swathe of territory stretching from Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk River.
Netanyahu, accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Deputy Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai, also said Israel would prevent what he described as a “terror army” from establishing itself along its border.
“We control the entire area from the summit of Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk, and from here to the Mediterranean Sea — absolute control unlike anything we have had before,” Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.
During the visit, the Israeli Prime Minister also declared that Israel was “very close” to defeating Iran’s government and reiterated his commitment to bringing about its downfall, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken in recent days about the prospect of regime change in Iran. On Sunday, he said the Iranian government was nearing its end and was “fighting for its life”, while stressing that Israel still had another mission to complete.
He made the remarks during a Rosh Hashanah toast at a government meeting, where he highlighted what he described as Israel’s military achievements and its cooperation with the United States.
“We are on the threshold of Rosh Hashanah, and more than ever, the State of Israel comes first,” Netanyahu said, according to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.
He credited what he described as “wise and courageous decisions”, the actions of Israeli soldiers and the resilience of the Israeli public for what he called “tremendous accomplishments”. Netanyahu said Israel was stronger than ever while its adversaries had been weakened.
Referring to Israel’s military campaign against Iran and Iranian-aligned forces, Netanyahu said cooperation with the United States had helped remove what he described as an existential threat facing Israel.
He claimed that Israel and the US had prevented the threat posed by atomic weapons and ballistic missiles and had inflicted heavy damage on what he called the “Iranian axis”.
Netanyahu also warned that Israel remained prepared to respond forcefully to any attack. “We are determined to defend ourselves; we are determined to strike our enemies,” he said.
He claimed Iran was currently refraining from attacking Israel because it understood the consequences of doing so, while warning that any Iranian attack would trigger a severe Israeli response.
“Of course, it could err and make the mistake of attacking us anyway. It will suffer a blow it cannot even imagine,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli Prime Minister further portrayed Israel as the dominant military power in the Middle East and issued a direct warning to its adversaries.
“I say to our enemies: Do not try us,” Netanyahu said, adding that the Israeli people knew how to unite during periods of crisis and that Israel was currently the “strongest superpower in the Middle East”.
His remarks came amid heightened regional tensions and continued Israeli military activity in Syria, alongside the broader confrontation involving Israel, Iran and their respective allies.
Netanyahu’s latest statements signal that Israel intends to maintain its military posture in strategic areas around its borders while continuing to confront Iranian influence in the region. His comments also indicate that pressure on Tehran and the possibility of regime change remain central to Israel’s stated objectives.
