West Asia crisis: Netanyahu claims Iran amassing nuclear 'stockpile'; Hezbollah fires projectiles into Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday (October 28) that Iran is working towards building a "stockpile" of nuclear weapons, allegedly aimed at the destruction of Israel. This announcement came two days after Israel conducted airstrikes on military sites in Iran.
The airstrikes on Saturday were a response to an October 1 attack by Tehran, itself an act of retaliation following the killing of leaders from Iran-backed militant groups and a Revolutionary Guards commander. Netanyahu said, “Iran is striving to develop a stockpile of nuclear bombs to destroy us, equipped with long-range missiles, intercontinental missiles that Iran is trying to develop.”
In his speech at the start of the winter session of Israel's parliament, Netanyahu added, “Iran could threaten the entire world at any point.”
"Stopping the Iranian nuclear programme is at the forefront of our minds, and for obvious reasons, I cannot share with you all our plans and actions in this regard," he said.
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Defence Minister Yoav Gallantalso said that the Israeli airstrikes over the weekend had changed the strategic equation with Iran, Israel’s long-time rival. “The enemy has been weakened -– both in its ability to produce missiles and in its ability to defend itself. This changes the balance of power,” Gallant said in a statement released by the defence ministry on Monday.
Hezbollah launches over 100 projectiles into Israel
In a separate development, the Israeli military reported that Hezbollah, the armed group based in Lebanon, launched over 100 projectiles into Israel on Monday amid Israeli bombardment of southern Lebanon. The military’s statement said, “As of 16:00 (1400 GMT), approximately 115 projectiles fired by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation crossed from Lebanon into Israel today.”
Separately, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing a volley of advanced rockets towards a naval facility near Haifa, a city in northern Israel. According to the group, this attack came in response to Israeli airstrikes in Tyre following an evacuation alert.
(With inputs from agencies)