Benjamin Netanyahu Says Iran Conflict Will Be Brief as U.S Expands Strikes Across Gulf

photo credit : Hindustan Times

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the ongoing war with Iran will be swift and decisive, dismissing suggestions that it could evolve into a prolonged Middle East conflict as joint U.S.-Israeli operations intensify across the region.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Netanyahu said the campaign “may take some time,” but insisted it would not drag on for years or become an endless war.

The fighting entered its fourth day with explosions reported in Tel Aviv, where Israeli air defence systems intercepted incoming Iranian missiles. Israel also carried out strikes in Tehran, including a reported attack on the headquarters of Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, and targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah positions in several towns in Lebanon.

The United States joined Israel in a broad air offensive that began with strikes on Tehran over the weekend. U.S. and Israeli officials said the attacks killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Iran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah, responded with retaliatory attacks, widening the conflict across the Gulf and leading to significant civilian casualties in Iran, Israel and Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald Trump initially suggested the conflict could last four to five weeks but later described the operation as open-ended. He said the strikes were aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme and expanding ballistic missile capabilities.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that further military action could follow, stating that Washington acted preemptively after anticipating Iranian retaliation against American installations in the region. He added that current objectives – including the destruction of missile launch and manufacturing sites – could be achieved without deploying ground forces, though that option remains under consideration.

Tensions escalated further when drones reportedly launched from Iran struck the U.S. embassy in Riyadh, causing minor damage. Saudi air defences intercepted several additional drones, according to the kingdom’s defence ministry. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later claimed it targeted a U.S. airbase command facility in Bahrain as part of a continuing military operation.

The U.S. military said it had struck more than 1,200 targets inside Iran and destroyed multiple naval vessels. Several American service members were killed in retaliatory attacks in Kuwait. In a separate incident, Kuwaiti forces mistakenly downed three U.S. fighter jets during an Iranian assault, though all crew members were rescued safely.

The conflict has disrupted global aviation and energy markets. Major Gulf airports, including Dubai International Airport, have remained closed for several days, stranding thousands of passengers. Aviation analysts describe the disruption as one of the most significant since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies – has slowed sharply amid security concerns. Oil prices have surged, tanker shipping rates have climbed to record levels, and airline stocks have fallen due to rising fuel costs and rerouted flights.

Iran has denied pursuing nuclear weapons and described the U.S.- Israeli strikes as unprovoked, saying they occurred while negotiations were ongoing over a possible nuclear agreement. Trump withdrew the United States from a previous nuclear deal with Iran during his first term in 2018.

The escalating conflict has drawn criticism from Russia, China and Turkey, while opinion polls in the United States indicate limited public support for the war, adding political pressure ahead of upcoming midterm elections.