Iran Is Not the Same Iran – Netanyahu After Northern Command Visit

Iran Is Not the Same Iran – Netanyahu After Northern Command Visit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is shifting from defense to...

Iran Is Not the Same Iran – Netanyahu After Northern Command Visit

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is shifting from defense to offense in its multi-front campaign, declaring that the country has created deep security zones inside enemy territory and is fundamentally altering the balance of power against Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.

Speaking after a high-level situational assessment at the IDF Northern Command headquarters in Safed, Netanyahu addressed the Israeli public and troops, emphasizing that the initiative now lies firmly with Israel.

“I have just completed a situational assessment in the Northern Command with the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Northern Command, and the division commanders,” Netanyahu said. He praised the commanders as “brave” and “determined to strike our enemies and remove the danger from our border.”

Netanyahu described the ongoing operations as a “multi-front campaign” in which Israel is “striking Iran and its proxies with tremendous force.” He claimed significant achievements that have created “visible cracks in the terror regime in Tehran,” adding: “Iran is not the same Iran, Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah, and Hamas is not the same Hamas.”

The Prime Minister asserted that the enemy groups, once existential threats, are now “battered enemies fighting for their own survival.” He stressed that Israel has seized the initiative: “We are the side taking action, we are the attacking side, we are the initiating side, and we are operating deep inside [enemy territory].”

Creation of “Deep Security Zones”

Netanyahu highlighted a strategic shift in Israel’s security doctrine, saying the country has established three deep security zones inside hostile areas:

- In Syria : From the slopes of Mount Hermon to the Yarmouk River.

- In Gaza : Covering more than half the territory of the Strip.

- In Lebanon : Where he has now instructed the IDF to further expand the existing security zone.

The purpose of the expansion in Lebanon, he explained, is “to permanently thwart the threat of invasion and to push anti-tank missile fire away from our border.”

He recalled that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had built a massive force intended to destroy Israel, including an arsenal of approximately 150 ,000 missiles and rockets aimed at Israeli cities. “Well, we eliminated Nasrallah. We eliminated thousands of Hezbollah terrorists, and above all, we eliminated the enormous threat of 150,000 missiles and rockets,” Netanyahu said.

While acknowledging that Hezbollah retains some residual rocket-launching capability, he stated that discussions with commanders focused on ways to neutralize this remaining threat entirely. “We are determined to fundamentally change this situation in the north,” he added.

Addressing residents of northern Israel, who have faced prolonged disruption due to the conflict, Netanyahu expressed awareness of their hardship and said he had directed government ministries to provide generous assistance. He called for continued “patience” and “standing strong.”

He also extended condolences to the families of fallen soldiers, describing them as “heroes” who died in the “campaign for our existence,” and expressed national appreciation for IDF soldiers  particularly reservists and their families  who have served on the front lines and home front for over two years.

Netanyahu concluded on a resolute note: “We are determined, we are fighting, and with God’s help, we are winning.”

Context of the Statement

The remarks come amid an intensified Israeli military campaign involving strikes on Iranian targets and continued ground and air operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Recent reporting indicates Israeli forces are deepening their presence in Lebanon to create a broader buffer zone aimed at reducing rocket and anti-tank threats to border communities.

The speech reflects Netanyahu’s repeated emphasis on proactive operations that have reportedly weakened Iran’s proxy network and shifted the regional dynamic in Israel’s favor.

No immediate reaction from Lebanese or Iranian officials was available in initial reports, though the conflict continues to involve exchanges of fire across the northern border.