Read Benjamin Netanyahu's full speech to Israelis regarding attack on Iran
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed civilians in a seven minute speech made public in the early hours of the morning.
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Speaking in English on a YouTube link shared via the Prime Minister's Office, he said: 'Moments ago, Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion', a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival.
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'This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat. For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have brazenly, openly called for Israel's destruction.
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'They 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.
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'In recent months, Iran has taken steps that has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium and if not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be in a year, it could be within a few months – it could be less than a year.
'This is a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival. Eighty years ago, the Jewish people were the victims of a Holocaust perpetrated by the Nazi regime.
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'Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear Holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime.
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'As Prime Minister, I've made it clear time and time again, Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu: "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." @IsraeliPM pic.twitter.com/vyGc5oTazN
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 13, 2025
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'Tonight, Israel backs those words with action. We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment program. We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponisation program. We targeted Iran's main enrichment facility. We targeted Iran's leading nuclear scientists working on the uranium bomb.
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'We also struck at the heart of Iran's ballistic missile program. Last year, Iran fired 300 ballistic missiles at Israel.
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'Each of these missiles carries a ton of explosives and threatens the lives of hundreds of people.
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'Soon, those missiles could carry a nuclear payload, threatening the lives not of hundreds, but of millions. Iran is gearing up to produce 10,000 of those ballistic missiles within three years.
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'Now, just imagine, imagine 10,000 tons of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey. This is an intolerable threat. It, too, must be stopped.
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