MWE Correspondent
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the people of Iran directly, just hours after Israel launched one of its most intense military operations against Iranian territory in recent years.
“Our fight is not with you, the great people of Iran,” Netanyahu said in English. “It is with your regime—a brutal dictatorship that oppresses you, that destabilizes the region, and threatens Israel and the world.”
The Israeli military had earlier initiated Operation Rising Lion, a large-scale campaign targeting over 100 sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program and military command. These included uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz, strategic locations near Tehran, and military compounds believed to be operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to analysts, this latest strike may represent Israel’s attempt to deter Iran’s growing nuclear ambitions, especially after reports emerged in early 2025 suggesting Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium beyond levels set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran responded by launching over 100 drones and around 150 ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted most of the projectiles, although some caused damage in residential areas. Hospitals in Israel reported treating civilians for injuries caused by falling debris and shockwaves.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media confirmed that at least 78 people were killed and over 320 injured, including military personnel and civilians. Though Iranian authorities claimed that core nuclear infrastructure remained unharmed, satellite images reviewed by international observers suggest significant damage at several facilities.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli strikes as “a war crime” and vowed to retaliate “without limits.” The Islamic Republic of Iran also announced it would halt all backchannel nuclear negotiations with the United States and its European partners.
Also Read; Ahmedabad Air Disaster Claims 265 Lives, Modi Mourns
On the Israeli side, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Iran had “crossed a red line” and warned that “Tehran will pay a very heavy price for threatening our people.”
The United Nations Security Council has called for an emergency session as fears grow that this could spiral into a broader regional war. International airlines have begun rerouting flights away from Israeli and Iranian airspace, while oil prices surged past $98 per barrel due to fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supply.
Netanyahu’s direct address is being viewed by some analysts as an attempt to reach beyond Iran’s leadership and plant seeds of resistance among ordinary citizens. His message referenced Iran’s ancient history and culture, calling on Iranians to remember their “noble legacy” and reject the “tyranny” of the Islamic Republic.
“We do not want war with the Iranian people,” Netanyahu said. “We want peace, and we want a future free from the threat of nuclear blackmail and terrorism.”
