Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
As Israeli forces remain on high alert in Gaza and along the Lebanese border, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel has undergone a profound transformation, one that extends beyond regional geopolitics to the very fabric of the nation and its military.
“We have not only changed the Middle East; we have changed ourselves,” Netanyahu said on Monday during an address to the Conference of Reserve Army Leaders. He emphasized that Israel no longer believes in the concept of containment, but rather in “constant initiative and active engagement.”
The prime minister praised what he described as the “remarkable” performance of Israeli forces, singling out both the regular army and the reserve units. “Those who called this the TikTok generation were wrong,” he said, noting that Israeli reservists had demonstrated resilience and discipline amid prolonged operations in Gaza and along Israel’s northern front.
Netanyahu also announced plans to extend the duration of mandatory military service and to strengthen the reserve forces, describing the reserve system as “an essential pillar” of Israel’s security structure. “Israel needs a large and powerful army,” he said, hinting at a broader military restructuring in response to what he called “a new regional reality.”
Warnings to Hezbollah and the Houthis
On Sunday, Netanyahu issued sharp warnings to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen, vowing to counter any threat against Israel. He described the Houthis as “a very significant danger” and asserted that Israel “will do whatever is necessary to eliminate it.”
Regarding Lebanon, Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of attempting to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon and warned against further provocations. In Gaza, he pledged to eliminate what he called “the remaining Hamas strongholds” in Khan Younis and Rafah, in the southern part of the Strip.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the prime minister’s tone, warning that “Hezbollah is playing with fire.” He held the Lebanese government responsible for failing to disarm the group, adding that Israel would not tolerate continued attacks or threats from its northern neighbor.
Regional and International Tensions Rise
The renewed Israeli warnings come amid growing international concern that the conflict could expand into a wider regional war. In Lebanon, anxiety is mounting over the possibility of a large-scale Israeli offensive in the south, or even airstrikes on Beirut if hostilities with Hezbollah escalate.
Since 2024, several Israeli officials have repeatedly boasted of what they describe as a fundamental “transformation of the Middle East” and the weakening of the so-called “Iranian Axis.” Israeli leaders have claimed victories against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, as well as successful strikes inside Iran targeting military and nuclear sites.
For Netanyahu, these developments are proof of Israel’s evolving strategic posture, a shift from reactive defense to preemptive dominance. But as tensions simmer on multiple fronts, the region braces for what could be a defining phase in a conflict that has already redrawn the political and military map of the Middle East.
