The following is a breakdown of Netanyahu's address to the nation after the launch of Operation Rising Lion to counter Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Israel launches Operation Rising Lion to neutralize Iranian threat
"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion — a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.
This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."
Video: PM Netanyahu's statement / Credit: GPO
Iran's nuclear enrichment program poses immediate danger
"For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have brazenly, openly, called for Israel's destruction.
They've backed up their genocidal rhetoric with a program to develop nuclear weapons.
In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs.
Nine.
In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before — steps to weaponize this enriched uranium.
If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time.
It could be a year, it could be within a few months — less than a year.
This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival."
Israel vows: "Never again" means military action
"80 years ago, the Jewish people were the victims of a Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime.
Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear Holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime.
As Prime Minister, I've made it clear time and again: Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal.
Tonight, Israel backs those words with action."
Strikes target Natanz, nuclear scientists, and missile infrastructure
"We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program.
We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponization program.
We targeted Iran's main enrichment facility in Natanz.
We targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientist working on the Iranian bomb.
We also struck at the heart of Iran's ballistic missile program."
Ballistic missile threat looms over Israeli cities
"Last year, Iran fired 300 ballistic missiles at Israel.
Each missile carries a ton of explosives, threatening the lives of hundreds.
Soon, those missiles could carry nuclear payloads, threatening not hundreds — but millions.
Iran is gearing up to produce tens of thousands of those ballistic missiles within three years.
Imagine 10,000 tons of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey."
Iran's "new plan" fails as Israel strikes back
"Iran is now working on what it calls the "new plan" to destroy Israel.
The old plan failed.
Iran and its proxies tried to encircle Israel with a ring of fire and to attack us with the horrible attack of October 7.
But the people of Israel, the soldiers of Israel, rose like lions to defend our country.
We crushed Hamas.
We devastated Hezbollah.
We hit Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen.
And when Iran directly attacked us twice last year, we struck back inside Iran itself."
Israel's campaign supports regional stability in Lebanon and Syria
"In defending ourselves, we also defend others.
We defend our Arab neighbors, who too have suffered from Iran's campaign of chaos and carnage.
Our actions against Iran's proxy Hezbollah led to the establishment of a new government in Lebanon and the collapse of Assad's murderous regime in Syria.
The peoples of those two countries now have a chance for a different future, a better future."
Message to Iranians: Our enemy is the regime, not the people
"To the brave people of Iran, I have a message:
Our fight is not with you.
Our fight is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years.
I believe that the day of your liberation is near.
When that happens, the great friendship between our two ancient peoples will flourish once again."
Call for global resistance to Iran's nuclear ambitions
"To the civilized world:
We will not let the world's most dangerous regime get the world's most dangerous weapons.
Iran plans to give nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies, turning the nightmare of nuclear terrorism into a reality.
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."
For decades, it has led millions in the chants of "death to Israel" and "death to America.""
Israel affirms alliance with U.S. and pledges action
"Today, Israel responds to those genocidal calls with action — and with a call of our own:
Long live Israel and long live America.
Our action will help make the world a much safer place."
Netanyahu thanks Trump, criticizes Iran's stalling
"I want to thank President Trump for his leadership in confronting Iran's nuclear weapons program.
He has made clear time and again that Iran cannot have a nuclear enrichment program.
Today, it is clear that Iran is just buying time.
It refuses to agree to this basic requirement of peaceful nations.
That is why we have no choice but to act — and act now."
History warns against appeasement
"The hardest decision any leader has to make is to thwart a danger before it fully materializes.
Nearly a century ago, facing the Nazis, a generation of leaders failed to act in time.
They adopted a policy of appeasement and got the worst war ever.
That failure to act resulted in World War II, the deadliest war in history.
It claimed the lives of 60 million, including 6 million Jews — a third of my people.
After that war, the Jewish people and the Jewish state vowed: Never again."
Israel acts first to stop weapons of mass destruction
"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 death, 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."
A message of courage for generations to come
"Over 3,000 years ago, Moses gave the people of Israel a message that has steeled their resolve ever since:
Be strong and courageous.
Today, our strong and courageous soldiers and people stand together to defend ourselves against those who seek our destruction, defend many others, and 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."
Final blessing and thanks
"May God bless Israel.
May God bless the forces of civilization everywhere.
Thank you."
