Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his government’s ongoing military campaign, saying Israel would continue its operations with full force as it confronts threats on several fronts across the region.
In a public statement issued one week after the start of what he called Operation Roaring Lion, Netanyahu praised Israeli pilots, ground crews and troops involved in military actions in Lebanon and other theatres. He also commended Israeli citizens for what he described as their discipline during the emergency, especially their compliance with civil defence directives.
Netanyahu said the campaign was central to Israel’s survival and framed the war as part of a broader struggle against forces he accused of seeking the country’s destruction. He said national resolve, both from leadership and the wider public, remained essential to the war effort.
He linked the current offensive to the aftermath of the 7 October attacks, saying Israel had since altered the regional balance of power through a series of military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran. According to him, those actions had strengthened Israel’s deterrence capacity and expanded its security reach.
The Israeli leader said the latest operation was launched in response to what he described as a growing threat from Iran, including concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile capabilities. He claimed Iran had taken steps to restore and protect key military assets deep underground, making them harder to target.
Netanyahu also thanked United States President Donald Trump for his support, describing the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv as strong and strategic. He said both countries had worked together to counter immediate threats posed by Iran and to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
He claimed that during the first week of the war, Israel and its allies had carried out significant strikes against Iranian targets, including military facilities, weapons infrastructure and missile launch systems. He also said senior Iranian and allied operatives had been neutralised, although many of the claims could not be independently verified.
On Lebanon, Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah remained a serious threat and urged the Lebanese government to fully enforce the ceasefire and disarm the group. He said failure to do so could expose Lebanon to severe consequences, while insisting that Israel would continue to act to protect its communities.
Looking ahead, Netanyahu said Israel had a structured plan for further action in Iran and suggested that more operations were being prepared. He also addressed the Iranian people directly, saying Israel’s conflict was with the ruling establishment rather than the population, and expressing hope for a future of peace between both countries.
He argued that Iran’s leadership posed a danger beyond the Middle East and accused the international community, including the United Nations and sections of the Western media, of double standards in their response to the conflict.
Netanyahu said Israel’s military posture had increased its standing among neighbouring states and opened new opportunities for regional cooperation. He maintained that Israel would press on with its campaign until its objectives were achieved.
He ended his remarks by urging Israelis to remain united, saying the country was still in the middle of a difficult battle and that military operations against Iran would continue without pause.
