(IANS) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today announced the launch of Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military offensive aimed at neutralizing Iran’s growing nuclear capabilities. The campaign, which began with major airstrikes early Friday morning, marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two regional adversaries.
Netanyahu declared that the operation would continue “for as many days as it takes” to eliminate the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program, which he described as a “clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.”
“In recent months, Iran has taken unprecedented steps to weaponise enriched uranium,” he said in a video statement. “If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time, perhaps within months.”
Israel’s strikes reportedly targeted key components of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, nuclear scientists involved in the weaponisation program, and sites tied to Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities.
Netanyahu reminded the global community that Iran had previously launched 300 ballistic missiles at Israel, each carrying a tonne of explosives. He warned that the same missiles could soon be equipped with nuclear warheads, escalating the threat from hundreds to millions of potential casualties.
“Iran is preparing to manufacture 10,000 ballistic missiles in the next three years,” he said. “Imagine 10,000 tonnes of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey. This is an intolerable threat. It must be stopped.”
The Prime Minister also accused Iran of attempting to surround Israel with a “ring of fire” through its proxies, an apparent reference to groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and militias in Syria and Yemen. He praised the Israeli people and soldiers, stating that they “rose like lions” in response to past attacks, including those on October 7, 2023.
“We crushed Hamas. We devastated Hezbollah. We struck Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. When Iran attacked us directly twice last year, we struck back inside Iran itself,” Netanyahu said.
He emphasized that Israel’s actions also served to protect its Arab neighbors, who have suffered from Iran’s “campaign of chaos and carnage.” He claimed that Israeli efforts led to the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the formation of a new government in Lebanon, giving citizens in both countries hope for a different future.
Addressing the Iranian people directly, Netanyahu clarified, “Our fight is not with you, but with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe the day of your liberation is near.”
He warned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions could extend beyond the region, posing a threat to Europe and the United States by enabling nuclear terrorism through its proxies.
Netanyahu also thanked former U.S. President Donald Trump for his stance against Iran’s nuclear programme, stating that Iran has consistently rejected international demands to end enrichment. “That is why we have no choice but to act. And act now,” he concluded.
The operation is ongoing, with global observers watching closely as the situation continues to develop.
