Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will act alone if Iran rebuilds its nuclear and missile capabilities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would act independently if Iran rebuilds the military capabilities damaged in previous Israeli and U.S. strikes, as he set out elements of his national security doctrine ahead of Israel’s October 27 election.

“If the regime recovers, it will rebuild its nuclear capabilities and its weapons of mass destruction,” Netanyahu said. “If we have to act alone, we will act alone.”

Netanyahu said Israel cannot accept an enemy state that declares its intention to destroy it and argued that the country must retain the ability to strike when it considers military action necessary.

Discussing the previous attack on Iran, Netanyahu said he told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel intended to act regardless of whether Washington joined the operation. He said he asked Trump to send B-2 bombers to strike the Fordow nuclear facility and that the United States joined the campaign on its tenth day.

Netanyahu also said Israel must reduce its dependence on foreign arms supplies by expanding domestic production of ammunition and weapons. He said future military-industrial and technological facilities should be built underground and that Israel should seek partnerships in which other countries depend on Israeli capabilities rather than the reverse.

He said Israel had shifted from what he described as a reactive security policy to an offensive and proactive approach, citing Israeli operations in Gaza and West Bank refugee camps. Netanyahu said Israeli forces had entered areas he described as “terrorist fortresses,” dismantled them and remained in place.

Netanyahu also said Israel would need to rely on military strength for years to come. “We will have to live by our sword for many years,” he said, adding that control of the country’s borders was essential to controlling its future.