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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he does not favour a pre-emptive strike against Iran before Israel’s October 27 election, amid heightened regional tensions and allegations that he may seek military confrontation for electoral gains.
In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio on Wednesday, Netanyahu described an attack before the election as inconvenient and said he hoped Iran would not launch an assault on Israel during the election period.
“Even if Iran fires missiles at us, they will blame me,” he said, while warning Tehran and its allies that Israel would respond forcefully if attacked.
Netanyahu’s remarks came amid conflicting reports about his discussions with US President Donald Trump over the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran.
A report published on Tuesday suggested that the two leaders had discussed potential renewed strikes ahead of elections in both countries.
Netanyahu’s office has denied that the prime minister was seeking to restart the war for electoral purposes.
The White House has also disputed aspects of the reports concerning discussions about renewed military action.
The Israeli prime minister warned that Iran and its regional allies could attempt to disrupt the upcoming election through direct attacks or attacks by allied armed groups.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon-based Hezbollah against launching attacks on Israel, threatening further military action and territorial expansion in southern Lebanon if the group joined a conflict involving Iran.
The developments underscore continuing tensions across the Middle East, where the prospect of renewed hostilities remains a concern despite the recent lull in direct fighting between Israel and Iran.
Source: Reuters, October 14, 2026.
