From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Citing Iran’s long-range attack, and its fire on holy Jerusalem, Netanyahu urges Europe to join fight against the regime
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Visiting the site of a missile strike in the southern city of Arad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urges world leaders to commit their countries to the joint Israeli-US military campaign against Iran, citing Tehran’s recent missile launch targeting the UK-US Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia over the weekend.
The unsuccessful attack showed that Iran has missiles that can reach further than previously thought.
“If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it. In the last 48 hours, Iran targeted a civilian area,” Netanyahu notes, pointing to the rubble around him. “They’re doing that as a mass murder weapon. Luckily, no one was killed, but that’s due to luck, not their intention. Their intention is to murder civilians.
“Second, they fired on Jerusalem, right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths — the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. And by dint of a miracle again, none of them were hurt. But they were targeting the holy sites of the three major monotheistic religions.”
“Third, they fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia. That’s 4,000 kilometers. I’ve been warning all the time, they have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe,” he says. “They already have fired on European countries — Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.
“And fourth, they’re stopping a maritime international route, energy route, and trying to blackmail the entire world,” he adds, referring to Iran’s blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil artery. “What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world, has to be stopped?” he asks.
“It’s time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up.”
Netanyahu says some countries are beginning to move toward joining the campaign, without specifying whom or in what capacity, but adds that “more is needed.”
"If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it."
PM @netanyahu warns Iran is no longer just a regional threat, citing four escalations in last 48 hours:
– Targeting civilian populations
– Endangering Jerusalem’s holy sites
– Testing… pic.twitter.com/5HQnHyUHp9
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) March 22, 2026
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly complained about the lack of international support for the offensive.
Netanyahu also condemns Iran’s recent attacks near holy sites in Jerusalem.
“They fired on Jerusalem, right next to the holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths: the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. By dint of a miracle, none of them were hurt, but they were targeting the holy sites of the three major monotheistic religions,” he says.
Asked by a reporter what his response will be to Iran’s attacks on Israeli civilians, the premier responds: “We’re responding with great force, but not on civilians. We’re going after the regime. We’re going after the IRGC, this criminal gang, and we’re going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets. We’re going after them very strongly.”
The Times of Israel Community.