Netanyahu Claims Israeli Strikes Destroyed 70% of Iran's Steel Production, Targeting Regime's Military Arsenal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly declared a significant escalation in the shadow war against Iran, claiming that recent Israeli airstrikes have destroyed approximately 70% of the country's steel production capacity. This move directly targets the industrial foundation of Iran's military complex, aiming to cripple its ability to manufacture missiles, drones, and ships for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Netanyahu framed the operation as a 'tremendous achievement' that simultaneously deprives the IRGC of critical financial resources and weapons production capabilities.

In a video statement, Netanyahu explicitly linked these strikes to a broader campaign conducted 'together with our American friends' to 'crush the terror regime in Iran,' citing actions that include eliminating commanders and bombing key infrastructure. The boast represents a rare public quantification of the damage inflicted in what has largely been a covert conflict of sabotage and targeted assassinations. The focus on steel production reveals a strategic shift towards degrading Iran's core industrial and economic assets, moving beyond isolated kinetic strikes.

This public declaration signals a more overt phase of pressure, aligning with a longer-term Israeli strategy analysts have described as aiming to precipitate internal instability within Iran. By systematically attacking the pillars of the regime's military-industrial complex and its revenue streams, Israel is applying sustained pressure designed to weaken the government's grip. The admission underscores the deepening, direct confrontation between the two regional adversaries, with significant implications for regional security and the global supply chain for military hardware.