Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu gave the following address shortly after the IDF conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear targets early Friday morning.

"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation aimed at dismantling the Iranian threat to Israel's survival. This operation will continue for as long as necessary to eliminate this danger.

For decades, the leaders of Tehran have openly called for Israel's destruction. They have backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a nuclear weapons program. In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atomic bombs – nine. More concerning, Iran has recently taken unprecedented steps to weaponize this uranium. If not stopped, Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in a very short time – it could be a year, or even just months. This is a clear and present danger to Israel's survival.

Today the Jewish state refuses to be victim of a nuclear Holocaust

Eighty years ago, the Jewish people were victims of a Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear Holocaust, especially one initiated by the Iranian regime. As prime minister, I have consistently made it clear: Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to carry out their threats. Tonight, Israel has backed those words with action.

We have struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment and weaponization programs. We targeted Iran's primary enrichment facility in Natanz. We also targeted leading nuclear scientists involved in Iran’s nuclear weapons project.

Additionally, we struck at Iran's ballistic missile program. Last year, Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles at Israel. Each missile carries a ton of explosives, threatening the lives of hundreds. Soon, those missiles could carry nuclear warheads, putting not hundreds, but millions at risk. Iran is preparing to produce tens of thousands of these missiles within three years.

Now, imagine – imagine 10,000 tons of TNT falling on a country the size of New Jersey. This is an intolerable threat. It must be stopped. Iran is now working on what it calls its "new plan" to destroy Israel. The old plan failed. Iran and its proxies attempted to encircle Israel with a "ring of fire" and launched the horrific October 7th attack.

But the people of Israel and our soldiers rose like lions to defend our country. We crushed Hamas. We devastated Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. When Iran directly attacked us twice last year, we struck back inside Iran.

Defending others, not just ourselves

Yet, in defending ourselves, we also defend others. We defend our Arab neighbors, who have also suffered from Iran’s campaign of chaos and carnage. Our actions against Iran's proxy Hezbollah led to the formation of a new government in Lebanon and the collapse of Assad's murderous regime in Syria. The people of those nations now have a chance at a better future.

The same is true for the brave people of Iran. I have a message for them: our fight is not with you. Our fight is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe your liberation is near, and when it comes, the bond between our two ancient peoples will flourish once more.

I assure the civilized world: we will not let the world’s most dangerous regime obtain the world’s most dangerous weapons. And Iran plans to give these nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies, making the nightmare of nuclear terrorism all too real.

The increasing range of Iran’s ballistic missiles would bring that nuclear nightmare to the cities of Europe and, eventually, to America. Remember, Iran calls Israel the "small Satan" and America the "great Satan," and for decades, it has led millions in chanting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America." Today, Israel is responding to those genocidal calls with action – and with a call of our own: Long live Israel and long live America.

Thank you, President Trump; preemptive strike

Our action today will help make the world a much safer place. I want to thank President Trump for his leadership in confronting Iran’s nuclear weapons program. He has repeatedly made it clear that Iran cannot have a nuclear enrichment program. Today, it is evident that Iran is simply buying time, refusing to meet the basic requirements of peaceful nations. This is why we have no choice but to act – and to act now.

The hardest decision any leader faces is to stop a threat before it fully materializes. Nearly a century ago, facing the Nazis, a generation of leaders failed to act in time. They were paralyzed by the horrors of World War I and determined to avoid conflict at all costs – and they got the worst war in history. They adopted a policy of appeasement. They ignored all the warning signs. That failure led to World War II, the deadliest conflict in history, claiming 60 million lives, including six million Jews – one third of my people.

After that war, the Jewish people and the Jewish state vowed: "Never again." Well, never again is now. Today, Israel has shown that we have learned the lessons of history. When enemies vow to destroy you, believe them. When enemies build weapons of mass destruction, stop them. As the Bible teaches us: When someone comes to kill you, rise and act first. This is exactly what Israel has done today: We have risen like lions to defend ourselves.

Moses: Be strong and courageous

Over 3,000 years ago, Moses gave the people of Israel a message that has steeled our resolve ever since: "Be strong and courageous," he said.

Today, our strong and courageous soldiers and people stand united to defend ourselves against those who seek our destruction. And in doing so, we defend many others, and we roll back a murderous tyranny. Generations from now, history will record that our generation stood its ground, acted in time, and secured our common future.

May God bless Israel. May God bless the forces of civilization everywhere. Thank you."