Netanyahu rejects army chief clash claims over secret Iran operation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports of a confrontation with the country’s army chief over a proposed military operation that could trigger a fresh conflict with Iran just days before Israel’s parliamentary election.

The reported dispute emerged on Sunday after Israel’s Channel 12 television said Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir had demanded a detailed discussion and signed legal authorisation from political leaders before carrying out their instructions.

The broadcaster did not reveal the nature of the proposed operation. However, the report raised concerns within the military that political leaders could use rising tensions with Iran to gain an electoral advantage before the October 27 vote.

A security official cited in the report warned that the operation could quickly escalate into a direct confrontation with Iran, increasing the risk of a dangerous miscalculation at a particularly sensitive moment.

Netanyahu rejected the claims during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 later on Sunday, insisting that relations between him and Zamir remained intact.

“There is no confrontation,” he said.

Political officials also denied that the Iranian issue was being used for electoral purposes, Channel 12 reported.

Netanyahu calls for Iran’s government to be toppled

During the same interview, Netanyahu said he had instructed Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, and the military to work towards toppling Iran’s government.

However, Channel 12 did not establish whether the undisclosed military operation was connected to those instructions, leaving questions about its purpose and potential consequences unanswered.

Netanyahu also claimed that Iran had resumed its nuclear programme, presenting the upcoming election as a matter of Israel’s survival.

His remarks have added to an already tense political atmosphere, with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Israel’s security taking centre stage ahead of the vote.

AI-generated nuclear image sparks political backlash

The Israeli prime minister further fuelled the debate on Sunday by posting an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv, accompanied by a warning about the possibility of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.

The post drew criticism from opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan, who accused Netanyahu of spreading fear and panic ahead of the election.

The allegations of a military disagreement, combined with Netanyahu’s warnings about Iran, have intensified scrutiny of how national security concerns are being discussed during the election campaign.

Although Netanyahu has dismissed reports of a clash with Zamir, the details of the proposed operation remain undisclosed. Whether it is linked to his stated objective of removing Iran’s government is also unclear.

With Israelis preparing to vote on October 27, the reported operation has raised questions about the risks of military escalation and the role of Iran in the country’s political contest.