Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump about Israel's determination to continue acting against Iran and its armed proxies whenever they try to harm the Jewish state, the premier said in a video statement.
Netanyahu said Sunday evening that it was "very friendly, very warm, and very important conversation" about the need for Israel to "complete its victory.".
"We are determined to prevent Hezbollah from arming," he said.
"This is a constant challenge to Israel, we have to face it -- and we will face it. I am addressing Hezbollah and Iran today clearly: to prevent you from attacking us, we will keep acting against you as necessary, in all areas, and at all times,"
The premier repeated his statement that last week's attacks on Syrian military sites were designed to ensure that the arms would not be used against Israel in the future. He said that Israel also hit arms supply routes to Hezbollah.
"We have no interest in a conflict with Syria," Netanyahu declared firmly.
"We will determine Israel's policy toward Syria according to the emerging reality on the ground."
"Syria is not the same Syria," he said, arguing that Israel is changing the Middle East.
"Lebanon is not the same Lebanon, Gaza is not the same Gaza, and the leader of the axis -- Iran -- is not the same Iran."
During the conversation with Trump, Netanyahu pointed to a change in the Middle East: he said that Israeli actions in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Syria have limited Iran's influence over the last year.
"Within days, we destroyed capabilities that the Assad regime built over decades," Netanyahu noted, referring to a series of intense Israeli airstrikes during the past few days following the collapse of the Assad government in Syria on December 8.
"The aim of the strikes was both to prevent weapons from being used against Israel and to avoid weapons from being transferred to Hezbollah from Syria," he explained.
Netanyahu also said his conversation with Trump included efforts to secure the release of about 100 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Progress has been reported in negotiations but no breakthrough has been reported as of Sunday, according to Israeli state broadcaster Kan TV.
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