Trump hails ‘total defeat’ of Iran in Knesset speech, praises IDF, US strike coordination

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated what he described as the “success” of the June war with Iran during a speech before the Knesset on Monday, declaring that the “forces of chaos, terror, and ruin” across the Middle East now stand “weakened, isolated, and totally defeated.”
Speaking to Israeli lawmakers, Trump said a “new coalition of proud and responsible nations is emerging,” asserting that “the enemies of all civilization are in retreat.”

He lauded the Israel Defense Forces for their “skill and bravery” during the 12-day air war with Iran earlier this year, singling out IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, whom he described as looking “like he’s from central casting.”

“Great job,” Trump said, adding that U.S. and Israeli forces “worked so well together” during the conflict.

The president also praised the U.S. military’s role in the coordinated attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, referring to the American B-2 bombers used in the strikes as “beautiful planes.”

“I thought they were pretty planes, I had no idea they could do what they did,” he remarked, drawing applause from parts of the chamber.

Trump celebrated the killing of “so many Iranian operatives and top scientists,” claiming that the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons within “two months or less.”

“Together, we stopped the number-one state sponsor of terror from obtaining the world’s most dangerous weapons,” he said. “We took a big cloud off the Middle East, and off of Israel.”

He concluded his remarks by describing the operation as “our last shot,” adding, “And it was an honor to help.”