A victory ‘for decades’? Netanyahu’s promise after June strikes proved hollow, but Israelis still support Iran war | CNN

The opening strikes of the war with Iran shouldn’t have been necessary if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to be taken at his word. After the 12-day war with Iran in June, Netanyahu declared unequivocal victory. Israel had “removed two existential threats,” eliminating Iran’s ballistic missiles and its nuclear program. “This victory,” he told Israelis last summer, “will stand for decades.” Those decades ended eight months later. On February 28, the US and Israel launched the first strikes of a war that has now reached its 26th day, more than twice as long as the conflict in June. The US calls it Epic Fury. Israel has dubbed it Roaring Lion. Whatever the name, it is a war with no clear end in sight even if US President Donald Trump hailed “productive” talks Monday aimed at ending hostilities And yet, Netanyahu has already declared victory again. “We are winning, and Iran is decapitated,” he said at a press conference last Thursday. Seventy-two hours later, two Iranian ballistic missiles slammed into cities in southern Israel, registering direct hits that pierced the country’s layered missile defense. One of the missiles hit the city of Dimona ne