“They want to kill him,” Netanyahu said in an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier during a special edition of Special Report on Sunday. “He’s enemy number one. He’s a decisive leader. He didn’t try to bargain with them weakly like others did—he ripped up their fake agreement, cut off the money, and made it clear they can’t have a nuclear bomb. That made him their top target.”
Netanyahu credited Trump with taking bold action that directly challenged Iran’s nuclear program, including the targeted killing of IRGC General Qasem Soleimani and the withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. “He was forceful. He made it clear: No uranium enrichment, no nuclear weapons. That’s why they fear him,” Netanyahu emphasized.
Netanyahu: “I Was a Target Too”
The Israeli Prime Minister also revealed that he himself was targeted by Iran, stating that a missile had struck the window of his bedroom in what he believes was an assassination attempt. Netanyahu referred to himself as Trump’s “junior partner” in the efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear trajectory.
“We faced a dual, existential threat,” Netanyahu explained. “First, Iran was fast-tracking uranium enrichment with the clear intention of building atomic bombs to wipe us out. Second, they were ramping up their ballistic missile production—3,600 missiles per year, escalating to 10,000 in three years, 20,000 within 26 years. Each missile a ton, Mach 6, aimed straight at our cities. No country can endure that—not one the size of Israel. So, we acted.”
Operation Rising Lion: “One of the Greatest Military Campaigns in History”
In what he calls Operation Rising Lion, Netanyahu said Israel launched coordinated strikes deep into Iran to disable missile factories and uranium enrichment facilities. He described the military action as “one of the greatest operations in military history,” aimed not just at defending Israel, but at protecting the entire world from an unchecked Iranian threat.
Following Israel’s strikes, Iran launched a retaliatory barrage of ballistic missiles toward Israeli cities. Many were intercepted, but several did reach urban areas, causing damage and civilian injuries.
Despite the rising tension, Netanyahu dismissed the notion of re-entering negotiations with Tehran: “It’s clear by now—talks with a regime that chants ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel’ are going nowhere.”
“We’re Protecting the World, Not Just Israel”
Netanyahu maintained that Israel’s actions are not only about national security but about preventing global catastrophe. “This regime is not just a threat to us. It’s a threat to the free world. We are doing what must be done to ensure they never acquire the capability to destroy cities, whether ours or yours.”
As the Middle East stands on the brink of a broader war, Netanyahu’s message is clear: Israel will act—alone if necessary—to stop Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and large-scale missile capabilities. The interview will air again Sunday at 5 PM ET on Fox News.