Netanyahu vows to escalate strikes, fighter jets taken off for Tehran

Euronews

20 hours ago

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israeli air forces had dealt "serious damage" to Iranian nuclear facilities and claimed that Iranian leaders are 'packing their bags' in the face of the ongoing military campaign.
In a televised address, Netanyahu threatened to escalate the attacks further, delivering a direct warning to Tehran.
"In the very near future you will see Israeli Air Force jets over the skies of Tehran, we will strike every site and every target of the Ayatollah's regime, and what they have felt until now is nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days," he stated.
"I talk to (world) leaders every day. And they express, I would say, tremendous admiration for both the resolve and determination of the state of Israel and the great achievements of our fighters, and there is reason to be truly proud of them and you should be proud of yourselves as well. We are in a fateful battle for our existence. We will fight until we achieve victory," Netanyahu concluded.
Right after this speech, Israeli media reported that squadrons of Israeli fighter jets had taken off from their bases en route to Iran.
The defiant speech comes amid conflicting reports about the extent of the damage. Israeli military officials said that strikes on nuclear sites in Natanz and Isfahan were able to damage them 'significantly.' However, Iran stated that the impact is limited, while still acknowledging the deaths of nine experts in the attacks.
Netanyahu justified the operation by claiming that if Israel hadn't acted, Tehran was planning to give nuclear weapons to its "terrorist proxies." Adding that the operation has 'clear support' from US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu pledged to continue the attacks.
The escalating conflict has directly derailed planned nuclear talks between the United States and Iran. The crucial negotiations, which were set to begin in Oman on Sunday, have been cancelled, with Iranian officials calling the dialogue "meaningless" in light of the Israeli strikes.
Iranians have been left reeling after deadly Israeli attacks on their country's top military officials and nuclear scientists.
Israel's 'Operation Rising Lion' is far more extensive than previous operations, including last year's missile and drone exchanges between the two countries.
The strikes killed ranking member of Iran's military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, something unseen since Iran's war with Iraq in the 1990s.
Dozens were killed and hundreds more injured.
Israel says the attacks will continue, raising the risk of further escalation and a broader conflict across the Middle East. Residents in Tehran rushed to stores to stock up on supplies as the situation escalates.
Iranian state television repeatedly aired footage of missile strikes on Tel Aviv throughout Saturday morning. The broadcaster also showed people cheering in front of a screen set up in Tehran to follow the strikes as if they were watching a football match.
'Israel killed our commanders and what do they expect in return? A kiss?' said Mahmoud Dorri, a 29-year-old taxi driver. 'We will go after them to punish them: an eye for an eye.'
In downtown Tehran, 31-year-old teacher and mother of two Pari Pourghazi expressed her joy over Iran's attack, linking it to Israel's devastating war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
'Someone should stop the Israelis. They think they can do anything they want at any time,' she said. "Iran showed the Israelis are wrong, though they could suppress people in Gaza or Lebanon by heavy bombing.'
Auto mechanic Houshang Ebadi, 61, also backed the Iranian strike but said he opposed a full-fledged war between Iran and Israel.
'I support my country. The Israelis made a mistake in launching attacks on Iran but I hope this comes to an end," Ebadi said. "War will not bear fruit for any side.'
Following the strikes, several governments issued red travel warnings for their citizens in Iran and across the region. Flights were diverted or cancelled as airlines face airspace closures.
Some foreigners travelled to Iran's border with Azerbaijan to flee the escalating conflict, including a Russian symphonic orchestra.
The Archbishop of Tehran issued an appeal for peace and dialogue and cautioned against the use of pre-emptive military action.