Netanyahu cites intelligence signs of Iran-linked attack ahead of vote

Vows 'overwhelming strike beyond imagination' in response

Israeli military ready for both defensive and offensive operations

PM ramps up security rhetoric in final stretch of campaign

US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival at the West Wing of the White House in Washington in September last year. [AFP]
US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon his arrival at the West Wing of the White House in Washington in September last year. [AFP]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday of a possible attack by Iran and Iran-backed armed groups just two days before the country's general election, vowing an overwhelming response if Tehran moved to disrupt the vote.

In a video released by his office Sunday (local time), Netanyahu said there were intelligence indications that Iran and its proxies could launch an attack to interfere with the election, according to AP and AFP.

He said the Israeli military was prepared for both defensive and offensive operations, and issued a stark warning: "Don't test us. You will face an overwhelming strike that far exceeds anything you can imagine."

However, Netanyahu did not provide specific intelligence details, an expected timeline for any attack, or potential targets.

The remarks came just two days before Israel's general election on Tuesday. AFP said Netanyahu has been delivering a series of hawkish security statements in the final stretch of the campaign.

Netanyahu also renewed his focus on Iran's nuclear threat, sharing an AI-generated image on his X account depicting a nuclear mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv.

The post included comments from a right-wing commentator who described Iran as an existential threat to Israel and argued that the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons made every other election issue trivial by comparison.

As Netanyahu continues to emphasize Iran's military threat ahead of the vote, tensions in the Middle East are rising again. With the possibility of further armed conflict between the United States and Iran already being raised, concerns are growing that a retaliatory strike by Israel could trigger a broader conflict across the region.


sjy@heraldcorp.com