Bannon Calls for Netanyahu's Son to Fight on Iran War Front Lines

Former Trump adviser demands DHS deport Israeli PM's son to Middle East combat zone.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:18am

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Steve Bannon, former White House adviser and key architect of President Donald Trump's MAGA agenda, is calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deport Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son and send him to fight on the front lines of the ongoing war with Iran, as the U.S. weighs a dramatic escalation of its own military involvement in the conflict.

Why it matters

Bannon's remarks underscore a deepening fracture within MAGA ranks over the prospect of U.S. ground troops entering Iranian territory. The U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran has already claimed 13 American service members' lives and left at least 300 wounded. With thousands of Marines and Army paratroopers now deployed to the Middle East, the possibility of boots on the ground is no longer theoretical—and Bannon is using it to force a pointed question about who, exactly, should be doing the fighting.

The details

During an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Grapevine, Texas, on Saturday, Bannon delivered a fiery rebuke of what he characterized as the wealthy and powerful sending other people's children to war. He doubled down Monday on his War Room broadcast on Real America's Voice, calling on Arab allies—the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Saudi Arabia—to commit their own forces to the fight, and specifically demanding that Netanyahu's son, who reportedly resides in the United States, be deported and placed "in the first wave."

  • Bannon made his remarks at CPAC in Grapevine, Texas on Saturday.
  • Bannon reiterated his call on his War Room broadcast on Real America's Voice on Monday.

The players

Steve Bannon

Former White House adviser and key architect of President Donald Trump's MAGA agenda.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The Prime Minister of Israel, whose sons Yair and Avner have not served in an active military capacity during the current conflict with Iran.

Yair Netanyahu

The 34-year-old son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, known for his outspoken social media presence and reportedly spending significant time in Miami.

Avner Netanyahu

The 31-year-old younger son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who maintains a more private profile compared to his brother Yair.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who has said he is "not putting troops anywhere" while also telling reporters he would not publicly disclose future ground operations if authorized.

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What’s next

No final decision on U.S. ground operations in Iran has been announced, but the deployment of amphibious and airborne forces signals the window for such a move is narrowing. Iran, meanwhile, is issuing stark warnings, with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf threatening to "set them on fire" and "punish their regional partners forever" should American troops set foot on Iranian soil.

The takeaway

Bannon's call for the children of the powerful to serve on the front lines of the Iran conflict reflects a growing debate within the MAGA movement over who should bear the burden of the ongoing military escalation, as the U.S. weighs a potential ground invasion that could further inflame tensions in the Middle East.