‘Not terrible thing to protect world from fanatics who export death’: Netanyahu on US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today defended the joint US-Israeli military action against Iran, calling it a necessary step to safeguard not only Israel and the United States but the wider international community from “theological thuggery.”

‘The ongoing operation, Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, aimed at countering extremist forces exporting violence globally,’ Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.

Advertisement

Netanyahu said that it’s not a terrible thing to protect humanity, to protect America, to protect Israel, to protect the free world from this theological thuggery. He said, “These fanatics don’t care, they just export death, mass death, everywhere.”

In a series of sharp remarks, the Israeli leader accused Iran of orchestrating decades of violence against American interests and destabilising the region. “Iran for 47 years has been chanting ‘death to America.’ They have murdered and maimed thousands of Americans. They bombed your embassies… and spread a worldwide web of terror. This is a regime committed to destroying the United States of America,” he said.

Netanyahu also alleged that Iran had attempted to assassinate US President Donald Trump twice, while accusing Tehran of repressing and killing its own citizens.

Praising Trump’s leadership, Netanyahu said, “There’s never been a President like Donald Trump. His resoluteness, his decisiveness, his clarity of thinking – he cuts through all the fluff and gets down to the main action that needs to be taken.”

He added that Trump’s leadership had restored America’s standing on the global stage. “We’re very lucky to have him as the leader of the free world… He’s brought America back to being the leader of the world,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu maintained that the military action was intended to pave the way for stability. “This is not an endless war, this is a gateway to peace. There is great danger, and it’s time to act,” he said.

The remarks come amid escalating hostilities in West Asia following a large-scale military operation launched on February 28. In a coordinated campaign under Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, US and Israeli forces carried out extensive air and missile strikes across Iran, targeting military installations, nuclear-related facilities, and senior leadership compounds.

Iran retaliated with ballistic missiles and drone attacks on US assets and allied locations across the region, including Israel and several Gulf states, widening the conflict and raising concerns over regional stability and civilian safety.