Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that Israel has paused additional attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure following a direct request from the United States. The statement came during a press conference addressing escalating Middle Eastern tensions, which have intensified since joint U.S.-Israeli operations began on February 28 this year.
Netanyahu confirmed that recent strikes successfully degraded Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities and missile production systems. "The third objective – political change – now rests with the Iranian people," he stated, emphasizing that Israel "will act as long as necessary" to ensure regional security.
The prime minister acknowledged Israel's unilateral strike on an Iranian natural gas field in the Persian Gulf on March 18, which occurred without prior U.S. notification. He also claimed combined U.S.-Israeli operations destroyed Iran's entire Caspian Sea naval fleet earlier this month.
During the briefing, air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel as Iranian missiles were launched toward the country. No casualties were reported in the latest exchange.
Regional analysts note the conflict has entered a precarious phase, with Iran and its allies conducting retaliatory attacks against Israeli and U.S. interests throughout the Middle East in recent weeks.
