India, June 25 -- Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered a blunt message regarding Israel's strategic autonomy, asserting that he did not seek US "approval" before launching the high-stakes June campaign against Iran last year. Speaking at the Muni Expo conference in Tel Aviv, the Israeli leader dismissed narratives of a subservient relationship with US President Donald Trump, clarifying that he merely provided notification of Israel's military intentions rather than requesting a green light.

"I did not ask for permission. I simply informed him of our plan," Netanyahu stated, reflecting on the operation that preceded US military involvement. He framed the decision as a necessary exercise of sovereignty, driven by the ur...