Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that he did not request permission from U.S. President Donald Trump before launching the 12-day war against the Islamic Republic in June 2025.
Speaking in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, June 24, Netanyahu stated that before starting the operation, he had told Trump: “We are going into Iran because I am not going to sit and wait for enemies who openly and loudly declare they want to destroy us, as well as you, meaning America.”
He added: “I didn’t ask for permission; I simply informed him of our plan.” Netanyahu noted, however, that he was pleased the United States joined the operation in its final stages.
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu’s latest remarks come amid growing concerns in Israel over potential restrictions on the country’s military freedom of action and rising tensions between Jerusalem and Washington, fueled by the Trump administration’s efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran.
In another part of his speech, defending Israel’s military achievements against Iran, Hamas in Gaza, and Hezbollah in Lebanon since the October 7, 2023, attack, Netanyahu said: “Security is built on a single principle: if someone comes to kill you, rise up and eliminate them first.”
He described this approach as a shift in Israel’s security doctrine toward preemptive action, stating that the policy is based on “entering the field, taking the initiative, and attacking.” According to Netanyahu, Israel’s most significant achievement in the recent conflicts was “breaking the barrier of fear.”
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