Netanyahu warns Iran as US-Israel military buildup accelerates

Friday 20 February 2026 - 09:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Netanyahu warns Iran as US-Israel military buildup accelerates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Iran that any direct attack on Israel would trigger a response of a scale Tehran “cannot even imagine,” as coordinated military preparations with the United States intensify across the Middle East. Speaking at an Israel Defense Forces officers’ graduation ceremony, Netanyahu said Israel is preparing for “any scenario” with Iran and stressed that the country is acting “side by side” with its main ally, the United States, against what he called an escalating Iranian threat.

US military deployments to the region have expanded in recent weeks, with an aircraft carrier strike group and additional air and missile defence assets heading toward the Middle East amid fears of a wider confrontation with Iran. American officials say the buildup is meant to deter Iranian action and reassure regional partners, but it also positions Washington for potential strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure if ordered by President Donald Trump. Israeli forces have raised their alert posture in parallel, with officials citing concern over a possible complex Iranian assault involving ballistic and hypersonic missiles, armed drones and covert cells targeting critical infrastructure and air bases.

Netanyahu has used a series of public appearances to underscore his message that Israel will not hesitate to use overwhelming force if Iran or its proxies launch a significant attack. He argued that Tehran’s leadership should not misread Israeli domestic debates or international diplomacy as a sign of weakness, insisting that Israel is ready to “fight to safeguard our security.” Senior Israeli defence figures have echoed the warning, saying the military’s readiness levels are higher than they have been in years and that the country’s defensive and offensive systems are being positioned for rapid action if required.

The sharpened rhetoric comes against the backdrop of faltering diplomatic efforts to restrain Iran’s nuclear programme and reduce regional tensions. European foreign ministers and Iranian officials have held multiple rounds of talks in Geneva with limited progress, while Washington has explored indirect channels to Tehran through international partners. Netanyahu has urged visiting US envoys to remain sceptical of Iranian commitments, saying Iran has repeatedly violated previous agreements and cannot be trusted to honour new ones. Israeli officials argue that time is running out to curb Iran’s nuclear and missile advances through negotiation alone, fuelling speculation that military action could be on the table if diplomacy stalls.

Trump, who has alternated between signalling a desire to avoid a new war in the Middle East and vowing not to allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, has hinted that key decisions could come within weeks. US officials insist that the latest deployments are defensive and aimed at preventing miscalculation, but regional governments fear that any direct clash between Iran and Israel could rapidly draw in the United States and ignite a broader conflict. For now, both sides are projecting strength: Iran has warned that US bases and Israeli cities would be legitimate targets in any confrontation, while Israel and the United States are signalling that any Iranian move judged as a major attack would meet with a powerful and possibly region-changing response.