Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel has launched “Operation Rising Lion,” a military operation targeting Iran’s nuclear program and other military objectives, vowing to continue strikes until the “threat” posed by the Islamic Republic is removed.
The declaration followed an initial wave of preemptive strikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against multiple military targets in Iran.
In a televised address to the nation lasting over seven minutes, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that dozens of Air Force jets completed the “first stage” of the operation. He asserted that the “tyrants of Tehran” have “called for Israel’s destruction” and accused Iran of accelerating its production of “uranium for nine atom bombs.”
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“Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Netanyahu declared. He emphasized that for decades, Iran has “brazenly, openly, called for Israel’s destruction” and backed this rhetoric with a program to develop nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu specifically alleged that Iran has produced “enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs” and has recently taken “steps to weaponize this enriched uranium.” He warned that “if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year.”
According to an IDF statement, the military targets in Iran included components of that country’s nuclear weapons program. Netanyahu confirmed that Israel “struck the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponization program,” specifically targeting their main enrichment facility in Natanz.
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The Prime Minister further alleged that Iran is pursuing a “new plan to destroy Israel” by attempting to “encircle Israel with a ring of fire” through its proxies, referencing the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas.
Addressing the Iranian people, Netanyahu stated, “Our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe that the day of your liberation is near.” He expressed hope that “when that happens, the great friendship between our two ancient peoples will flourish once again.”
Netanyahu also sent a message to the international community: “We will not let the world’s most dangerous regime get the world’s most dangerous weapons.” He reminded listeners that Iran refers to Israel as “the small Satan” and America as “the great Satan,” leading to chants of “death to Israel and death to America.” He concluded by stating, “Today, Israel is responding to those genocidal calls with action and with a call of our own. Long live Israel, and long live America. Our action will help make the world a much safer place.”
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Shortly after the strikes, the United States disavowed any involvement in the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement clarifying, “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region.”
Rubio added, “Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”
The preemptive strikes come amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East. Prior to Israel’s action, President Donald Trump had reportedly warned about a “massive conflict” that could unfold in the region over Iran’s nuclear program, even as the Trump administration had been reportedly nearing a deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
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