Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a televised address on Saturday evening, calling on Iranians to unite against their government while urging Israelis to remain resilient as the fighting continues.
The address comes as Israel and the US continue to attack military targets throughout Iran in what has been dubbed in Israel as Operation Roaring Lion.
Netanyahu began by thanking US President Donald Trump "for his historic leadership," adding, "He keeps his word."
On the special relationship between Israel and the US, Netanyahu called it "a partnership during peace and a partnership during war" and stated, "This war will lead to peace. Real peace."
Netanyahu continued to note achievements reached during the first day of operation, claiming that numerous Iranian officials and commanders in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been eliminated.
"There are growing indications that [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] is no longer," Netanyahu added, without providing additional details.
"And we will keep going. In the coming days, we'll hit thousands of targets of this terrorist regime," the prime minister stated. "We will create the necessary conditions for the brave Iranian people to free themselves from the shackles of tyranny."
Netanyahu urges Iranian unity
Addressing the Iranian public directly, Netanyahu said there would be a moment when citizens would be required to take to the streets "to finish the job." He urged them not to miss what he described as a "once in a generation" opportunity.
“Your suffering will not be for nothing,” he said. “Help has arrived. Now it is time to unite for this historical purpose. The residents of Iran - the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baluchis - this is your time to unite to topple the regime and secure your future.”
Netanyahu stressed that the campaign would continue for as long as necessary to reach this goal.
Netanyahu tells Israelis to stay resilient in days of war
Turning to Israelis, Netanyahu thanked the public for their support, saying he had drawn strength from the country’s unity. He praised citizens for standing behind the IDF, the government, and its leadership, while warning that resilience would be required in the days ahead.
Netanyahu also noted the symbolic weight of the date, pointing out that it marked 106 years since the death of Joseph Trumpeldor, one of the early figures of Zionist military history.