The Netanyahu Doctrine: A Strategic History of Israeli Military Operations Across Sovereignties (1996–2025)

24 Nov

Executive Summary: The Long War of Benjamin Netanyahu

The military and geostrategic history of the State of Israel under the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu constitutes a distinct and transformative epoch in the nation’s defense doctrine. Spanning three non-consecutive terms—1996 to 1999, 2009 to 2021, and 2022 through the escalating conflicts of 2025—Netanyahu’s tenure has redefined the boundaries of Israeli military action. Unlike the wars of the mid-20th century, which were characterized by distinct beginnings and ends against conventional state armies, the Netanyahu era has been defined by the concept of the "Campaign Between Wars" (Hebrew: Mabam), a continuous, high-intensity effort to degrade emerging threats before they mature into existential dangers.

This report provides an exhaustive reconstruction of military operations authorized by Netanyahu across twelve distinct sovereign territories. It analyzes the transition from the "containment" policies of the early 2000s to the "Total War" footing of 2023–2025. The analysis is rooted in a comprehensive review of operational logs, intelligence disclosures, and official state communiqués, painting a picture of a leader who views the Middle East not as a collection of sovereign states, but as a single, interconnected battlefield dominated by the struggle against Iranian hegemony and radical Islamist terror.

From the remote deserts of Sudan to the streets of Kuala Lumpur, and from the cyber-infrastructure of Natanz to the refugee camps of Gaza, the operational map of the Netanyahu premiership is vast. It reflects a doctrine that privileges the pre-emptive destruction of capabilities over the diplomatic sanctity of borders, driven by a conviction that Israel’s survival depends on its ability to project a "Long Arm" capable of striking any threat, anywhere. This report details how, by late 2025, this doctrine culminated in a multi-front regional war that saw Israeli forces operating simultaneously in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran itself.

Part I: The Strategic Evolution of the Prime Minister

To understand the specific military campaigns detailed in this report, one must first contextualize the strategic evolution of Benjamin Netanyahu himself. His approach to military force has shifted dramatically over his three tenures, influenced by changing regional dynamics, domestic political pressures, and the evolving nature of warfare technology.

1.1 The First Term (1996–1999): The Pragmatist in the Security Zone

Netanyahu’s first rise to power in 1996 came in the wake of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and a wave of suicide bombings.1 His initial military policy was defined by the "Security Zone" in Southern Lebanon—a static, defensive posture inherited from his predecessors. During this period, Netanyahu was characterized by a certain caution; while he authorized special operations, he was wary of large-scale ground maneuvers that could lead to high casualty counts, a sensitivity that would define his career until the events of October 7, 2023. His tenure ended with the IDF still entrenched in Lebanon, a "bleeding wound" that he attempted to manage rather than surgically close.2

1.2 The Second Term (2009–2021): The Architect of "Mabam"

Returning to power in 2009, Netanyahu faced a transformed region. The Iranian nuclear threat had matured, and the Arab Spring began to disintegrate the traditional state system. It was during this period that the "Netanyahu Doctrine" truly crystallized. He shifted the IDF’s focus away from massive ground invasions (as seen in his reluctance to reconquer Gaza in 2014) toward intelligence-driven air superiority, cyberwarfare, and clandestine operations. This era saw the birth of the "Campaign Between Wars," a strategy designed to interdict weapons transfers and degrade enemy capabilities without triggering all-out war.3

1.3 The Third Term (2022–Present): The Era of Total War

Netanyahu’s return to office in late 2022, at the helm of a right-wing coalition including figures like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, marked a turning point.5 The strategic restraint of the previous decade evaporated following the catastrophic failure of deterrence on October 7, 2023. The subsequent years, 2023 through 2025, have seen Netanyahu authorize the most extensive use of military force in Israel’s history, moving from "mowing the grass" to a strategy of "regime change" in Gaza and "strategic dismantling" in Lebanon and Iran.6 By November 2025, Netanyahu openly declared that the demilitarization of Gaza and the prevention of a Palestinian state were non-negotiable pillars of his security policy, enforced by continuous military occupation.8

Part II: The Palestinian Theater – The War of Attrition

The Palestinian arena has been the crucible of Netanyahu’s military experience. While he often focused his rhetoric on the Iranian threat, the tactical reality of his governance was dominated by the need to manage the violent equilibrium in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

2.1 The Gaza Strip: From Containment to Reoccupation

Netanyahu’s policy toward Gaza for over a decade was one of containment—using limited military force to degrade Hamas' capabilities ("mowing the grass") while allowing Qatari aid to sustain the enclave's governance. This policy collapsed on October 7, 2023, leading to a fundamental shift in doctrine.

Operation Pillar of Defense (November 2012)

Initiated during Netanyahu’s second term, this operation set the template for the "remote warfare" doctrine.

Operational Trigger: Escalating rocket fire and the targeting of an IDF jeep on the border.
The Jabari Assassination: The operation opened with a precise airstrike assassinating Ahmed Jabari, the acting chief of Hamas' military wing. This was a quintessential Netanyahu move: a high-value intelligence target struck with minimal collateral damage to signal deterrence.6
Technological Integration: This was the first major conflict utilizing the Iron Dome defense system, which intercepted hundreds of rockets. This technological success emboldened Netanyahu’s strategy, as it minimized Israeli civilian casualties and reduced domestic political pressure for a hasty ground invasion.

Operation Protective Edge (July–August 2014)

This 50-day conflict highlighted Netanyahu’s extreme reluctance regarding ground maneuver.

The Tunnel Threat: The discovery of extensive cross-border attack tunnels forced a limited ground incursion. Netanyahu authorized the IDF to enter only a few kilometers into Gaza to neutralize the tunnel shafts, resisting intense pressure from his cabinet to topple the Hamas regime.1
Strategic Outcome: While the tunnels were destroyed, the operation ended with Hamas still in power, reinforcing the "quiet for quiet" paradigm that would hold for the next decade.

Operation Guardian of the Walls (May 2021)

Triggered by tensions in Jerusalem (Sheikh Jarrah and the Temple Mount), this operation saw the first significant integration of deceptive warfare.

The "Metro" Deception: Under Netanyahu’s authorization, the IDF announced a ground invasion that never happened, tricking Hamas fighters into entering their underground tunnel network ("The Metro"). The IAF then bombed these tunnels heavily. While tactically innovative, it failed to alter the strategic balance.6

The War of Iron Swords & Operation Iron Wall (2023–2025)

The massacre of October 7, 2023, shattered the containment doctrine. Netanyahu declared a state of war, aiming for the total destruction of Hamas.

Phases of Conquest: The IDF conducted a massive ground maneuver, slicing Gaza into sections and systematically clearing terror infrastructure in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and finally Rafah.
Operation Iron Wall (2025): By January 2025, the conflict had evolved into "Operation Iron Wall," a sustained counter-insurgency campaign. Snippets from late 2025 indicate that Israel maintained a heavy military presence, with Netanyahu asserting on November 16, 2025, that "there will be no such thing" as the non-demilitarization of Gaza, confirming a long-term military reoccupation.8
Casualties and Scope: The scale of bombardment and ground combat in this period exceeded all previous Arab-Israeli wars in terms of intensity, with the IDF utilizing brigade-level sweeps to prevent Hamas from regrouping.10

2.2 The West Bank: The "Invisible" Campaign

While Gaza garnered headlines, Netanyahu’s tenure oversaw a relentless intensification of military control in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria).

Operation Brother’s Keeper (2014): Following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, Netanyahu ordered a massive crackdown on Hamas in the West Bank, arresting hundreds of operatives and dismantling the organization’s administrative infrastructure.11
Operation Break the Wave (2022) & Summer Camps (2024): In response to a surge in "lone wolf" terror attacks, the IDF launched aggressive incursions into the northern West Bank, particularly Jenin and Nablus. "Operation Summer Camps," launched in August 2024, involved the use of heavy armored bulldozers to rip up roads concealing IEDs and the first use of aerial drone strikes in the West Bank in two decades.9
The 2025 Escalation: By early 2025, the "Iron Wall" operational concept had been applied to the West Bank as well, blurring the distinction between the two Palestinian territories. Netanyahu’s government, heavily influenced by settler leaders like Smotrich, viewed these operations not just as security measures but as essential for preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.5

Table 1: Key Military Operations in the Palestinian Theater (2009–2025)

Operation

Dates

Strategic Objective

Key Outcome

Cast Lead

2008–09

Deterrence/Degradation

Pre-Netanyahu (ended just before he took office).

Pillar of Defense

Nov 2012

Assassination/Deterrence

Killing of Ahmed Jabari; Iron Dome debut.

Protective Edge

July 2014

Anti-Tunneling

Destruction of 30+ terror tunnels; 50-day attrition.

Brother's Keeper

June 2014

Hostage Rescue (West Bank)

Massive arrest campaign; precursor to Protective Edge.

Guardian of the Walls

May 2021

Deterrence/Jerusalem

"Metro" tunnel strikes; inter-communal violence.

Breaking Dawn

Aug 2022

Pre-emption (PIJ)

Targeted killing of PIJ leadership; short duration.

Iron Swords

Oct 2023–2024

Regime Change

Reoccupation of Gaza; dismantling of Hamas governance.

Summer Camps

Aug–Oct 2024

Counter-Terror (West Bank)

Heavy engineering ops in Jenin/Tulkarm refugee camps.

Iron Wall

Jan 2025–

Long-term Occupation

Enforcing demilitarization; permanent buffer zones.

Part III: The Northern Front – Lebanon and the Hezbollah Dilemma

The Lebanese theater represents the longest and most complex military engagement of Netanyahu’s career, stretching from the muddy hills of the Security Zone in the 1990s to the high-tech precision warfare of 2025.

3.1 The Security Zone Era (1996–1999)

Netanyahu’s first term was defined by the "bleeding" of the Security Zone. While he did not initiate the occupation, he was responsible for managing the intense guerrilla war against Hezbollah.

The Ansariya Ambush (September 1997): This event stands as a pivotal failure in IDF special operations history. A force of 16 naval commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 unit landed near the coastal village of Ansariya to conduct a targeted operation. Unknown to them, Hezbollah had intercepted the unencrypted video feeds from Israeli drones scouting the landing zone. Hezbollah fighters, led by commanders like Mustafa Badreddine, set a lethal trap with IEDs.

The Outcome: 12 Israeli soldiers were killed, including the force commander, Lt. Col. Yosef Korakin. The disaster forced a re-evaluation of Israeli signal security and deepened the Israeli public's fatigue with the Lebanese occupation.12
Strategic Impact: Netanyahu faced immense pressure following this catastrophe, which arguably accelerated the momentum that led to the eventual withdrawal in 2000 (under Ehud Barak). The memory of Ansariya would make Netanyahu extremely cautious about special operations on Lebanese soil for decades.14

3.2 The "Support Front" War (2023–2025)

Following October 7, 2023, Hezbollah opened a "northern front" to support Hamas. Netanyahu’s response evolved from containment to a campaign of systematic dismantling.

The Campaign of Assassinations: Throughout 2024, Israel systematically targeted Hezbollah’s command structure. This culminated in the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah in September 2024 and the killing of Ibrahim Aqil (a key figure in the 1997 Ansariya ambush) in an airstrike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district.15
The Pager Attack (September 2024): In one of the most sophisticated cyber-kinetic attacks in history, thousands of pagers and radios belonging to Hezbollah operatives detonated simultaneously across Lebanon.

Unit 8200 Involvement: Western security sources confirmed that Unit 8200, Israel’s signals intelligence agency, played a central role in the technical planning of this operation, likely infiltrating the supply chain to plant explosives inside the devices. This operation physically incapacitated a significant portion of Hezbollah’s mid-level command in seconds.17

Escalation to Ground Maneuver (2024–2025): By late 2024, the aerial campaign shifted to ground operations. Netanyahu authorized incursions to push Hezbollah forces back from the border, aiming to enforce a new buffer zone. Snippets from late 2025 indicate that despite a ceasefire in "October 2025" (referenced as "a year ago" in some contexts, or possibly referring to the Oct 2024 dynamics), tensions remained lethal, with airstrikes continuing against Hezbollah infrastructure in villages like Shehour and Deir Kifa.18

Part IV: The Syrian Theater – The Campaign Between Wars (Mabam)

Syria represents the most successful application of the Netanyahu Doctrine: the continuous use of force to shape the strategic environment without triggering total war.

4.1 The Logic of Mabam

Since 2013, Israel has conducted thousands of airstrikes in Syria. The objectives are clear:

Preventing Iranian Entrenchment: Denying the IRGC permanent bases on Israel’s border.
Interdicting Advanced Weaponry: Destroying convoys of Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) destined for Hezbollah.
Neutralizing Proxy Militias: Targeting the infrastructure of groups like the Fatemiyoun and Zeinabiyoun brigades.

4.2 Major Operations

T4 Airbase Strikes: The Tiyas Military Airbase became a frequent target. In 2018 and 2019, Israel struck Iranian drone command centers and advanced air defense systems (Tor-M1) located at the base.20
Operation House of Cards (May 2018): Following Iranian rocket fire at the Golan, Israel launched its largest aerial operation in Syria since 1974, striking over 50 Iranian targets in a single night.
The "Glass House" Strike (November 2019): After rockets were fired at the Golan Heights, the IAF struck dozens of targets, including the Iranian headquarters at Damascus International Airport (the "Glass House"). Netanyahu publicly claimed responsibility, stating, "Iran has no immunity anywhere".21
The Consulate Strike (April 2024): In a major escalation during the Iron Swords war, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the consular annex of the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a top Quds Force commander. This strike, authorized by Netanyahu, crossed a diplomatic red line and precipitated the first direct missile exchange between Iran and Israel.7

4.3 The Russian Deconfliction

A key component of this campaign was Netanyahu’s personal diplomacy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Through dozens of meetings, Netanyahu established a deconfliction mechanism that allowed Israeli jets to operate in Syrian airspace—dominated by Russian S-400 batteries—without engaging Russian forces. This diplomatic-military maneuver allowed the "Campaign Between Wars" to continue unabated for over a decade.23

Part V: The Iranian Head – From Stuxnet to Total War

Netanyahu has famously described Iran as the "head of the octopus," arguing that Israel cannot merely fight the tentacles (proxies) while leaving the head immune. His tenure has seen a shift from covert sabotage to direct, overt warfare.

5.1 The Shadow War (2009–2023)

For most of his premiership, Netanyahu utilized covert means to delay Iran’s nuclear program.

Operation Olympic Games (Stuxnet): In 2010, the Stuxnet computer worm, developed jointly by the U.S. and Israel (specifically Unit 8200), destroyed roughly 1,000 centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear facility. This was the world’s first deployment of a digital weapon causing physical destruction.24
The Nuclear Archive Raid (2018): In a daring Mossad operation, agents stole half a ton of nuclear documents from a warehouse in Tehran. Netanyahu revealed the intelligence in a televised presentation, directly influencing the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA.1
Assassinations: Key figures in Iran’s nuclear program, such as Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (2020), were assassinated in operations widely attributed to Israel.

5.2 The Direct War (2024–2025)

The shadow war erupted into the open in 2024.

The April 2024 Exchange: Following the Damascus consulate strike, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel. Israel responded with a precision strike on an S-300 radar system near Isfahan, signaling its ability to penetrate Iran’s most heavily defended airspace.7
The October 2024 Exchange: After a second Iranian ballistic missile barrage, Israel launched widespread airstrikes against Iranian missile production facilities and air defenses, effectively stripping Iran of its Russian-supplied defensive umbrella.15
The June 2025 War: According to reports from late 2025, the conflict escalated to a full-scale war in June 2025, when Israel launched a "surprise attack targeting key Iranian military and nuclear facilities." This operation, which destroyed significant portions of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, marked the ultimate realization of the Netanyahu Doctrine: the use of overwhelming force to preempt an existential threat, regardless of the diplomatic fallout.7

Part VI: The Circle of Fire – Yemen and Iraq

As the regional war expanded, Netanyahu authorized operations in theaters previously considered peripheral.

6.1 Yemen: The "Long Arm" Strikes

The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) in Yemen began firing ballistic missiles at Eilat and central Israel in solidarity with Gaza.

Operation Long Arm (July 2024): After a Houthi drone struck Tel Aviv, killing a civilian, Netanyahu ordered a massive retaliation. Dozens of IAF aircraft flew over 1,800 kilometers to strike the Hodeidah Port, destroying fuel depots, power stations, and cranes used to unload Iranian weapons. The resulting fire burned for days, visible from space.27
September 2024 Strikes: Following a missile launch at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel struck Hodeidah and the Ras Issa port again, targeting oil tanks and power plants. Netanyahu declared, "There is no place that the long arm of the state of Israel will not reach," signaling a new strategic reach into the Red Sea basin.29

6.2 Iraq: Expanding the Radius

In 2019, Israeli intelligence identified Iranian ballistic missiles being transferred to Shiite militias in Western Iraq.

The 2019 Air Campaign: In July and August 2019, Israeli F-35I Adir stealth fighters struck targets at Camp Ashraf, Amerli, and weapons depots in southern Baghdad. These were the first Israeli strikes in Iraq since the 1981 Osirak reactor bombing.
Targeting the PMF: The strikes specifically targeted the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella of Iranian-backed militias. Netanyahu hinted at responsibility, erasing the distinction between the Syrian and Iraqi theaters in Israeli security policy.21

Part VII: The Shadow Campaigns – Sudan, Egypt, and Targeted Killings

Beyond the major theaters of war, Netanyahu authorized a series of covert and semi-covert military actions to sever supply lines and eliminate technological threats.

7.1 Sudan: The Red Sea Route

For years, Sudan served as the primary transit hub for Iranian weapons heading to Gaza.

The Convoy Strikes (2009): In January and February 2009, during the transition to Netanyahu’s second term, the IAF executed Operation "Birds of Prey," striking a convoy of 17 trucks and an Iranian arms ship in the Red Sea. This severed the "Red Sea Route" for a time.33
The Yarmouk Factory Bombing (October 2012): Four Israeli aircraft bombed the Yarmouk munitions factory in Khartoum, which was manufacturing rockets for Hamas under Iranian supervision. The strike demonstrated Israel’s ability to conduct complex, long-range operations requiring aerial refueling.35

7.2 Egypt: The Secret Alliance in Sinai

While Israel and Egypt have a peace treaty, the rise of ISIS-Sinai Province (Wilayat Sinai) posed a shared threat.

The Covert Air Campaign (2015–2018): Under Netanyahu, the IAF conducted over 100 covert airstrikes against ISIS targets in the Sinai Peninsula. These strikes were conducted with the full approval and coordination of the Egyptian military, often using unmarked drones to maintain Cairo's plausible deniability. This operation represents a unique instance of Israeli military force being used to stabilize a neighboring Arab regime.38

7.3 Assassinations of "Knowledge Hubs"

Netanyahu’s government authorized the targeted killing of engineers and scientists in foreign countries to prevent the technological advancement of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Tunisia (2016): Mohamed Zouari, a Tunisian aerospace engineer known as the father of the Hamas drone program (the "Ababeel" drone), was assassinated in Sfax. The operation, attributed to the Mossad, stopped Hamas from developing unmanned underwater vehicles.40
Malaysia (2018): Fadi al-Batsh, a Palestinian electrical engineer and rocket expert, was gunned down in Kuala Lumpur. Al-Batsh was researching drone engine efficiency and rocket guidance systems. His assassination in Southeast Asia demonstrated that Israel’s "kill list" extended globally.42

7.4 Eritrea: The Watchtower

Reports indicate that Israel has established a covert military presence in Eritrea to monitor the Red Sea.

Dahlak Archipelago: Israel reportedly maintains listening posts and docking facilities in the Dahlak islands and atop Mount Amba Sawara. These bases are used to monitor Iranian naval movements and interdict arms smuggling, serving as a forward operating base for Israel’s naval presence in the Bab el-Mandeb strait.44

Part VIII: Conclusion – The Legacy of the Long War

By the end of 2025, the military legacy of Benjamin Netanyahu had fundamentally reshaped the Middle East. What began in 1996 as a struggle to manage a security zone in Southern Lebanon evolved into a multi-continental campaign against the Iranian axis.

The "Netanyahu Doctrine" was defined by its disregard for traditional sovereignty when Israeli security was at stake. Whether bombing a factory in Sudan, hacking a nuclear plant in Iran, or striking a port in Yemen, the operational logic remained consistent: preemption and reach. The "War Between Wars" (Mabam) allowed Israel to degrade threats for over a decade without total mobilization.

However, the events of 2023–2025 revealed the limits of this doctrine. The "mowing the grass" strategy in Gaza failed to prevent the rise of a monstrous threat on the border, leading to the necessity of the "Iron Wall" reoccupation. Similarly, the shadow war with Iran eventually escalated into the open, kinetic conflict of June 2025.

Ultimately, Netanyahu’s tenure transformed the IDF from a border defense force into a regional power projection machine, capable of striking anywhere in the Middle East. Yet, this tactical brilliance came at the cost of permanent conflict, leaving Israel in late 2025 locked in a "Ring of Fire," fighting a war of attrition that spanned from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf.

Table 2: Geographic Distribution of Israeli Military Actions Under Netanyahu

Country/Territory

Theater Type

Key Operations

Strategic Focus

Palestinian Terr.

Total War

Iron Swords, Iron Wall, Protective Edge

Regime Change / Counter-Terror

Lebanon

Hybrid War

Pager Attack, Ansariya Ambush (1997)

Degrading Hezbollah Capabilities

Syria

Air Campaign

Mabam (Campaign Between Wars)

Anti-Entrenchment / Interdiction

Iran

Strategic War

June 2025 Nuclear Strike, Stuxnet

Counter-Proliferation

Yemen

Long-Range Strike

Op. Long Arm (Hodeidah)

Deterrence / Economic Warfare

Iraq

Airstrikes

2019 PMF Camp Strikes

Anti-Missile Basing

Sudan

Interdiction

Yarmouk Factory, Convoys

Severing Arms Supply Routes

Egypt (Sinai)

Counter-Insurgency

100+ Covert Airstrikes

Supporting Ally / Anti-ISIS

Tunisia

Assassination

Killing of Mohamed Zouari

Denying Drone Technology

Malaysia