JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu issued a statement on Saturday morning following the launch of the war by the United States and Israel against Iran, announcing that the objective of the operation is to put an end to the threat posed by the Ayatollah regime in Iran.

“Just a short while ago, Israel and the United States launched a joint campaign — Operation Roaring Lion,” he said.

“At this hour, the IDF is striking targets of the regime of oppression, facilities of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, and together with the United States military, ballistic missile sites that threaten both Israel and U.S. forces. This operation will continue as long as necessary.”

שבוע טוב, אחיי ואחיותיי, אזרחי ישראל.

הבוקר יצאנו, ישראל וארה״ב, למבצע משולב להסרת האיום הקיומי על ישראל מצד משטר האייתולות באיראן.

אמרתי לכם: המבצע יימשך ככל הדרוש, ונדרש גם אורך רוח.

אני מודה לידידי, הנשיא דונלד טראמפ, על מנהיגותו. שוחחתי איתו שוב הבוקר ואני מברך על שיתוף… pic.twitter.com/9u0Hm9Vmng

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 28, 2026

“For 47 years, the evil regime in Iran has called for death to Israel, death to America. It has trampled its own citizens, terrorized the peoples of the region, spread a vast global terror network, and invested enormous resources in developing nuclear bombs and tens of thousands of missiles intended, as it put it, to wipe Israel off the map. In Operation ‘Rising Lion,’ our brave soldiers dealt a crushing blow to the Ayatollah regime and its proxies, but the wounded beast has not ceased its attempts to recover in order to destroy us. In recent months, Iran’s tyrants have plotted to rebuild their nuclear and missile capabilities and to bury them underground. If we do not stop them now, they will become immune.”

“The tyrants in Iran made a grave mistake, because the United States does not buy their lies, and we will not sit idly by while the shadow of annihilation looms over us. Therefore, we have now launched Operation Roaring Lion, an action far more powerful than Operation ‘Rising Lion.’ We are doing this in full coordination with our friend the United States under the courageous leadership of President Donald Trump. Together with the United States, we will strike the terror regime hard and create conditions that will allow the brave Iranian people to cast off the yoke of this murderous regime.”

“During Operation ‘Rising Lion,’ I was asked many times whether toppling the regime was a goal in addition to removing the nuclear and missile threat. I thought it was not the objective, but it could certainly be the outcome. And indeed, that is exactly what began to happen when millions of Iranians took to the streets. Now they are being given the opportunity to take their destiny into their own hands.”

“Citizens of Israel, as in Operation ‘Rising Lion,’ we will again need patience and great fortitude, because there will be costs, and perhaps heavy costs. Since the beginning of the war, we have stood together, and today as well we will stand together with courage, brotherhood, and mutual responsibility. I ask all of you to strictly follow Home Front Command instructions, as they save lives. Challenging days lie ahead. Every military action involves risk, but the risk of not acting is far greater, because if we do not act, we will face a nuclear Iran with tens of thousands of ballistic missiles working to destroy us and immune to our countermeasures. As a people who cherish life, we have no choice but to go to battle. But this time we are doing so with the immense combined strength of the State of Israel and the United States.”

Netanyahu addressed the citizens of Iran, saying: “You are not our enemies, and we are not your enemies. We share a common enemy — the murderous cult of the Ayatollahs that seized control of you through the forces of repression of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij. They are the ones who dragged your magnificent country to the depths. They are the ones who slaughtered you in large numbers. The Iranian people in all its parts, Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baluchis, and all other citizens of this great nation: this is your opportunity to establish a new and free Iran. Take your destiny into your own hands. Lift your eyes to the skies: our forces are there, the pilots of the free world. All are coming to your aid. I believe the day is not far when Israel and a free Iran will join hands for the sake of security, peace, progress, and prosperity.”