By Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran may take "some time" but it
Netanyahu Says US-Israel War Against Iran Will Not Last for Years
By Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil
Overview of the US-Israel Conflict with Iran
Timeline and Duration of the Conflict
WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran may take "some time" but it will not take years.
The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran began with attacks against Tehran on Saturday, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and prompting Iranian retaliation against Israel and missile attacks at Arab nations with U.S. bases across the Middle East.
Predictions and Statements from Leaders
President Donald Trump initially projected the war to last four to five weeks, but added it could go on longer, and has since sought to justify a broad, open-ended war on Iran.
Netanyahu rejected the idea of the conflict lasting years, like previous wars in the region.
Netanyahu's Comments on War Duration
"I said it could be quick and decisive. It may take some time, but it's not going to take years. It's not an endless war," Netanyahu said on Fox News' "Hannity" program.
Implications for Middle East Policy
The assault on Iran formed part of a list of Trump's foreign policy actions that have marked a striking shift from his "America First" rhetoric against U.S. interventions when he campaigned in the 2024 elections.
Prospects for Peace in the Region
Netanyahu said he saw the war as an opportunity for lasting peace in the Middle East, including between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
"Yes I do," he said, when asked if he saw a lasting path to peace in the region.
Public Opinion and Historical Context
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed over the weekend that only one in four Americans approved of U.S. strikes on Iran that have plunged the Middle East into chaos.
U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that lasted several years made many Americans skeptical of Washington's direct involvement in wars on foreign soil.
Strategic Goals and Shifting Narratives
Netanyahu said the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran was creating a scenario for the Iranian people to topple their government.
"Now, of course, it's up to the people of Iran in the final count to change the government, but we are creating - America and Israel together are creating - the conditions for them to do so," he said.
Trump's Changing Objectives
Trump's stated aims and timeline for the war have shifted since it began over the weekend. On Saturday when he announced the strikes, he urged Iranians to "take back your country" and implied a goal of toppling the government.
In comments on Monday, Trump made no mention of toppling Iran's government and said the war was needed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran denies seeking, and to thwart its long-range ballistic missile program.
Nuclear Capabilities in the Region
Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons. Washington also has nuclear weapons.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry)
