Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Israel "will not be dragged into a war of attrition" and that he intends to end the war in Iran as soon as the war goals are complete.
"When we achieve the goals, we will not continue with actions beyond what is necessary. But we will not finish too early," he said in a Sunday speech.
"When the goals are achieved, the operation will stop."
He emphasized that the exact results of the American strike are still being clarified, but said Iran had "suffered very severe blows."
The prime minister’s remarks came as Israel and the United States intensify their military campaign against Iran. Netanyahu framed the current stage of the conflict as a strategic breakthrough, signaling that Israel is no longer just defending against attacks but proactively dismantling Iran’s military capabilities.
“Iran built the axis of evil to strangle us and bring war to Israeli territory,” Netanyahu said. “After breaking the axis, we are now taking the war into Iranian territory. Our pilots are operating in Iranian skies as if they were our own. We are striking all targets, eliminatingcommanders. This is a dramatic shift. It opens opportunities we can't yet even imagine.”
Operating deep in enemy territory, remembering the fallen
Opening the briefing, Netanyahu addressed the casualties of Iran’s recent assault on Israeli cities and those killed during Operation Rising Lion.
“We do not forget for even a moment the heavy price we have paid during Operation 'Rising Lion' and throughout the entire campaign,” he said. “Our hearts are with the victims of Iran’s heinous assault on our cities. We embrace the families of the fallen and wish the wounded a full recovery.”
Netanyahu then stated Israel’s dual objectives: eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat and defeating Hamas. “We will continue to invest all efforts into eliminating the Iranian threat and defeating Hamas, while securing the return of all our hostages.
“We will change the face of the Middle East. That is exactly what we are doing," he continued. "Even if there are more difficult days ahead, greater and better days are coming—days of unity, strength, and, with God's help, peace.”
The prime minister emphasized the extent of Israel’s ongoing military operations inside Iran, crediting Israeli pilots for operating deep in enemy territory.
“Our pilots are operating in Iranian skies as if they were our own. We are striking all targets, eliminating commanders,” he said. “This is a dramatic shift.”
In response to a question from Ynet about the Abraham Accords, Netanyahu suggested that new diplomatic possibilities are emerging.
“I believe extraordinary opportunities will open up. We believe in peace through strength. Israel's strength brought about the Abraham Accords even when Iran was at the height of its power.”
When asked about the possibility of targeting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu said: “I have no doubt that this regime seeks to destroy us and our very existence. That is why we launched an operation to eliminate the two concrete threats to our existence: the nuclear and missile threats.
"We are progressing step by step toward achieving our goals. We are very close to completing them. This is not the forum to specify targets. In war, I believe in fewer words and more actions, and I do not intend to deviate from that principle.”
Netanyahu praised former US president Donald Trump and the American military for their role in the joint operation that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“We must take our hats off to our great friend, my close friend, President Trump, for the excellent job done by the US Air Force. We salute its pilots,” he said. “They inflicted massive damage on Fordow. Of course, we will assess the situation, but in any case, we will ensure that these nuclear facilities no longer pose a threat. We will do whatever is necessary to meet our goals—and we will achieve them all.”
Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu stressed that the war against Hamas is ongoing.
“I am not taking my eyes off Gaza. In recent days, we have brought back eight fallen soldiers. We are committed to bringing everyone back. This is not an empty statement—we will make it happen. We are operating continuously on several fronts and in multiple arenas.”
He added that the offensive against Iran is directly helping Israel achieve its goals in Gaza. “Iran is the one that built the choking axis—and that entire structure is now collapsing.”
Shortly after the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, Netanyahu released two recorded statements, one in Hebrew and one in English. In both, he thanked Trump and the United States for their actions.
“We often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace," he said.
"Tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with full force. Your bold decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities with the immense power of the United States will change history."