Jerusalem, June 26 (V7N) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly approved a decision to launch a military strike on Iran as early as last year, well before former U.S. President Donald Trump had left office or diplomatic talks on Iran’s nuclear program had resumed. The revelation comes from multiple current and former Israeli officials, according to a report by The Washington Post.
 
According to the sources, in October of last year, Israel successfully disrupted and destroyed parts of Iran’s air defense systems. At the same time, Israel launched operations to weaken Hezbollah, Iran’s key regional ally based in Lebanon.
 
Following these efforts, Netanyahu is said to have directed Israeli security and intelligence agencies to begin preparing for a broader strike on Iranian territory. Israeli intelligence operatives held secret planning meetings, where they began drafting a list of Iranian nuclear scientists and military officials who could be targeted in future assassination operations.
 
During this preparatory phase, the Israeli Air Force also conducted regular sorties to dismantle air defense systems in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. These missions were reportedly intended to secure future air routes and eliminate potential aerial threats that could interfere with a direct strike on Iran.
 
These revelations suggest a long-term and highly coordinated Israeli strategy aimed at neutralizing what it sees as the existential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
 
Netanyahu’s government has consistently maintained that Iran is covertly advancing toward nuclear weapons capability, despite Tehran’s insistence that its nuclear program is purely for civilian use.
 
The Washington Post report adds to a growing body of evidence that points to escalating preparations by Israel for a potential full-scale confrontation with Iran, amid growing regional tensions and stalled diplomatic efforts.
 
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