- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel and the United States launched a joint military operation targeting Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons
- Netanyahu said the operation aims to remove what he described as an existential threat and called on Iranian citizens to oppose the country’s ruling leadership
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel and the United States had launched a joint military operation targeting Iran, announcing the action in a video address released shortly after the strikes began.
Speaking directly to Israeli citizens, Netanyahu said the operation was aimed at removing what he described as an existential threat posed by Iran’s leadership.
The announcement came amid escalating military activity following coordinated strikes against Iranian targets, as regional forces moved to heightened alert levels. Israeli leadership framed the operation as a response to concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and broader security risks.
“A short while ago, Israel and the U.S. embarked on an operation to remove the existential threat from the terror regime in Iran,” Netanyahu said in the recorded statement. He added: “The murderous terror regime must not be armed with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity.”
Netanyahu described the action as a joint effort between Israel and the United States, emphasizing the stated objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Israeli officials did not release operational details regarding specific targets, participating forces, or weapon systems used during the strikes.
The Israeli prime minister also addressed the Iranian population directly in his remarks, linking the military operation to broader political outcomes inside Iran. “Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” Netanyahu said.
He continued: “The time has come for all parts of the Iranian people – the Persians, the Kurds, the Azeris, the Baloch and the Ahwazi – to throw off the yoke of tyranny and bring about a free and peace-loving Iran.”
According to Israeli government communications, the video message was released as military operations were ongoing and as Israeli defense forces prepared for potential retaliation. Authorities had already implemented elevated readiness measures nationwide, including strengthened air defense posture and reinforced command structures.
The statement represents one of the clearest political confirmations of coordinated military action between Israel and the United States during the current escalation. Public acknowledgment by senior leadership often accompanies operations intended to convey strategic messaging alongside military objectives.
Joint operations between allied forces typically involve coordinated planning, intelligence sharing, and synchronized targeting designed to achieve overlapping security goals. While neither government disclosed tactical specifics, such operations generally rely on precision strikes against infrastructure assessed as critical to military capability.
Preventing adversaries from acquiring nuclear weapons capability has long been a central element of Israeli national security policy. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that nuclear-armed adversaries would fundamentally alter the country’s security environment due to the limited geographic depth of Israeli territory.
Netanyahu’s remarks also reflected an information component commonly associated with modern military campaigns, in which leadership messaging seeks to influence both domestic audiences and foreign populations. Addressing ethnic groups within Iran directly underscores an effort to frame the operation beyond purely military terms.