This operation will continue as long as necessary until we complete the mission to eliminate the threat of destruction hanging over us. From the bottom of my heart, I salute the commanders and soldiers of the IDF, the Air Force, intelligence, and «Mossad» for planning a daring operation, for decisive and powerful execution.
At the same time, I must tell you: Iran still has significant capabilities to harm us. And we are prepared for that too. I ask all of you, citizens of Israel, for close cooperation in the coming hours and days. Throughout the months of the war for revival, we have shown remarkable resilience. We need this resilience now more than ever. I ask you to strictly follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, these instructions save many lives.
We are all together — sharing fate, mutual assistance, the special spirit of our people. «The people rise like a lion and lift themselves like a lion».
This spirit gives us tremendous strength to act, fight, and, with the help of the Almighty, win. Brothers and sisters, throughout all my years as Prime Minister of Israel, the Iranian threat has always been before my eyes. The measures we have taken against this existential threat have delayed Iran's nuclear program by a decade. Delayed, but not stopped. In recent years, Iran has accumulated highly enriched uranium in quantities sufficient for nine nuclear bombs. And in recent months, Iran has begun to take steps towards armament — steps it has never taken before. These actions have brought Iran closer to creating nuclear weapons in the shortest possible time, weapons that threaten our very existence.
Besides the nuclear threat, there is another existential threat that Iran is developing against us — it is building a giant arsenal of ballistic missiles. These missiles reach Israel in a matter of minutes. Each of them carries a ton of explosives. Iran's plan is to produce 10,000 such missiles in three years, and in six years — 20,000. For a country the size of Israel, this is a threat that cannot be ignored. Therefore, our actions are aimed at eliminating it.
Iran's intentions are crystal clear. In the center of Iran, giant clocks are installed, counting down the time to the destruction of Israel. Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran 46 years ago, this regime has at every opportunity called: «Death to Israel! Death to Israel!» And these are not just words, but actions. Iran has created a regional and international terrorist monster directed against us. It calls this the «program for the destruction of Israel». Exactly so. And it has armed its proxies around us to the teeth: Hamas in Gaza, «Hezbollah» in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and others. Since the attack on October 7, we have defeated a significant part of this axis of evil. But all our enormous achievements will be in vain if Iran manages to create a nuclear arsenal and tens of thousands of ballistic missiles. That is why after the Iranian missile attack last year, I gathered the heads of the security forces and told them: «Your task is to strike simultaneously at both the nuclear and missile programs». I told the heads of the security forces that we have no choice but to act quickly.
We cannot leave these threats to the next generation. Because if we do not act now — the next generation simply will not exist. If we do not act now — we will not exist.
Since the Holocaust, we have vowed: «Never again». Never again — is now. Today we have proven that we have learned the lessons of history. If the enemy says they are going to destroy you, believe them. If the enemy is developing capabilities for your destruction, stop them.
I want to address the Iranian people: we are not your enemies, and you are not our enemies. We have a common enemy — it is the regime of tyranny that has oppressed you for almost 50 years. This regime has deprived you of the opportunity to live well, and I am convinced that the day of your liberation from tyranny is closer than ever. And when this happens, Israelis and Iranians will restore the alliance between our ancient peoples. Together we will build a future of prosperity, a future of peace, a future of hope.
Citizens of Israel, today, when our heroic pilots are in the skies over Iran, we are protecting not only ourselves, we are protecting the peoples of the region. We are protecting our partners for peace, a peace that we can expand with joint efforts. We are protecting the free world from the terror and barbarism that Iran encourages and spreads everywhere. Many in the world, even if they do not admit it aloud, deep down know that thanks to your determination and heroism and thanks to the determination and heroism of Israeli fighters, the world will become safer.
I want to thank President Trump for his firm stance. He has repeatedly stated that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons. I thank him for his constant support of Israel throughout his presidency. Citizens of Israel, we face difficult days, but also great days. What we are doing today will go down in the history of Israel and in the history of nations as the struggle for the victory of light over darkness. Together we will be steadfast and resolute. Together we will remember the words of Moses to Joshua: «Be strong and courageous». Together, with the help of the Almighty, we will ensure the eternity of Israel.