Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Monday night local time that in 14 months, Israel had destroyed a network of terrorist groups on the Jewish state's borders that Iran took 45 years to build.
Prime Minister Netanyahu was speaking in the aftermath of the Syrian regime's sudden defeat by rebels who moved into Damascus with lightning speed following Israel's success in its war of self-defense against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran arms and funds Hezbollah and uses its force not only to threaten and attack Israel, but also to dominate Lebanese politics and serve as the shock force of Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime against Sunni militias. It was also used to make
Iran also controlled Hamas. Although Hamas was originally a Sunni group, it became dependent on the Shiite regime for arms, weapons, training, and other forms of support.
Israel annihilated Hezbollah and largely destroyed Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Iran still maintains proxy militias in Iraq, has sporadically launched missiles and drones at Israel, and also controls Yemen's Houthi rebels, who attacked Israel with a drone on Monday. Iran is also smuggling weapons to terrorists in Judea and Samaria, known as the West Bank, in an effort to destabilize not only Israel but also the Palestinian Authority.
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of a new beginning for the Middle East and reiterated his desire for good relations with Syria. In the meantime, he confirmed that Israeli forces will operate in the former demilitarized zone between Israel and Syria and atop Mount Hermon, the region's highest mountain, which was once a Syrian military stronghold.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the Golan Heights, which is a key buffer zone between the turmoil in Syria and the heartland of Israel. He told reporters that it was almost 20 years since the Syrians were able to use the high ground to shell Israeli farms, recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the territory it captured from Syria in the 1967 defensive war. It reminded him of what he asked US President Donald Trump to do. and the communities of the lower Galilee Valley.
The Israeli prime minister also highlighted the suffering of the 100 hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and said the collapse of Iran's terrorist proxies and the weakening of Iran itself would push Hamas towards a deal.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. he is the author of Agenda: What should President Trump do in his first 100 days in office?available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of Trumpian Virtues: Lessons and Legacy of the Donald Trump Presidencynow available on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
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