Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation today to announce that Israel, together with the United States, has commenced a coordinated operation aimed at neutralizing what he described as the “existential threat” posed by Iran’s ruling regime. In a solemn, direct statement to Israelis, Netanyahu framed the action as necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons and to protect both Israeli and global security.

“My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu said, “a short time ago, Israel and the United States embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.” He explicitly thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for what he called “historic leadership” in supporting the move.

Netanyahu recounted decades of hostility from Iran’s leadership, noting the regime’s long-standing slogans and policies that, in his words, include calls for the destruction of Israel and antagonism toward the United States. “For 47 years,” he said, “the Ayatollah regime has been shouting ‘Death to Israel,’ ‘Death to America.’ It has spilled our blood, murdered many Americans, and massacred its own people.” He stressed that such a regime must not be allowed to develop or be equipped with nuclear arms capable of threatening humanity.

Beyond the immediate military objective, Netanyahu described a political aim: to create conditions that could empower the Iranian people to determine their own future. He appealed directly to the diverse groups within Iran — naming Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, and Ahwazis — urging them to “throw off the yoke of tyranny” and work toward a free and peaceful Iran.

Domestically, the prime minister called for calm, discipline, and readiness. He urged Israelis to follow directives from the Home Front Command and to prepare for a period of sustained resilience under the operation, which he identified as Operation “The Roar of the Lion.” “In the coming days,” he said, “we will all be required to have endurance and fortitude. Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will ensure the eternity of Israel.”

Netanyahu’s statement combined a justification of the joint operation on security grounds, a call for international and domestic unity, and an explicit appeal to Iranians to rise against their government. Authorities have not released further operational details in this address.