In a somber but defiant televised address delivered in Hebrew and English, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced that Israel and the United States have launched a massive joint military operation to "remove the existential threat" posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered his speech following high-intensity airstrikes that took place in Iran over the course of the morning against the IRGC command centers, ballistic missile facilities, and areas near the Supreme Leader’s office in Tehran. Netanyahu described the offensive codenamed “Operation Roar of the Lion” (or Lion’s Roar) as a historic turning point for the Middle East.
A Final Stand Against Nuclear Ambition
Netanyahu’s brief heavily emphasized the deep-seated nuclear conflict between Jerusalem and Tehran. "This murderous terrorist regime should not be permitted to arm itself with nuclear weapons that could put it in a position to be a threat to the entire world," Netanyahu said. “For 47 years, the Ayatollah regime has cried out ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America.’ It has spilled our blood and slaughtered its own humanity. We will not let them terrorize the world with atomic weapons and hold it hostage.”
The Prime Minister thanked President Donald Trump for his “historic leadership” and “bold decision” to launch what the White House has called “major combat operations” inside Iran. According to Netanyahu, the joint action is the only way forward when it comes to ensuring that Iran’s nuclear “breakout” capability is eliminated permanently.
Appeal to the Iranian People
Recalling sentiments expressed earlier by President Trump, Netanyahu presented the military operation itself as a catalyst for an internal political overhaul within Iran. He spoke directly to the Iranian public, urging various ethnic groups to turn to chaos for their own political gains. “Our joint action will make it possible for the courageous Iranian people to take their own fate into their own hands,” Netanyahu said. “Now is the time for all sections of the Iranian people—the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baloch, the Ahwazis—to break away from tyranny and create a free and peace-seeking Iran.”
Preparing for a "Protracted Conflict"
Though the early waves of strikes have been characterized as “surgical,” Netanyahu urged the Israeli people to plan for a drawn-out clash of days. With air raid sirens detonating across Tel Aviv and central Israel over an initial wave of 30 Iranian ballistic missiles, the Prime Minister urged “patience and inner strength.” “Over the next few days, we’re all going to need to demonstrate endurance and strength,” he said. “We are going to stand together, we are going to fight together, we are going to ensure that the future of Israel is guaranteed.”
Israeli hospitals, as of Saturday afternoon, have shifted patients to underground treatment facilities, and the Home Front Command remains at maximum operational capacity. As the "Roar of the Lion" is operational, the Israeli government has declared the operation to remain active until the threat from Tehran is neutralized.
