Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address on Saturday evening, emphasized that Israel is proceeding with its military campaign against Iran with full force. He clarified that joint air operations with the United States have led to almost complete control over the airspace of the capital, Tehran, a week after the intensive strikes began.
Netanyahu revealed the existence of a strategic and systematic plan aimed at undermining the current Iranian regime and achieving a set of security and political objectives in the region. He indicated that these moves come in response to the demands of the Israeli public and soldiers in the field for the necessity of continuing the fight until what he described as 'decisive victory' is achieved.
In the context of reviewing military capabilities, military sources reported that the Israeli Air Force has carried out approximately 3,400 airstrikes since the outbreak of the confrontation on February 28. About 7,500 various munitions were used in these attacks, which targeted strategic and vital sites deep within Iran.
These statements come at a sensitive time, as field reports confirmed the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Commander Mohammad Pakpour in previous strikes. Netanyahu considered that these developments directly contributed to changing the balance of power and reshaping the face of the Middle East anew according to the Israeli vision.
For its part, Hebrew media sources stated that the Ministerial Committee for National Security (the Security Cabinet) will hold an emergency meeting to assess the rapidly developing field situation. The meeting will be attended by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and leaders of the security establishment to discuss available options for dealing with the ongoing escalation on the Iranian and Hezbollah fronts.
On the Iranian side, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, accused both Washington and Tel Aviv of systematically seeking to dismantle the Iranian state from its roots. He affirmed in televised statements that the continuous attacks aim to destroy the Iranian national entity, stressing that Tehran continues to respond with missile barrages and drones.
Regarding regional repercussions, the United Arab Emirates has been subjected to more than a thousand missile and drone attacks since the start of the conflict. Iranian responses also targeted American military bases in the Gulf region, including Al Udeid Air Base, which was targeted by drones and ballistic missiles, increasing the pace of regional tension.
Economically, the war has caused severe shocks to global markets, with oil and gas prices jumping by up to 25%. Israel faces internal economic pressures, with its weekly losses reaching 9.4 billion shekels, while the United States incurs about a billion dollars daily to finance its military operations.
At the international level, clear divisions emerged in European positions, with Spain and Portugal refusing to allow the use of their military bases for attacks against Iran. In contrast, Britain expressed its preference for the negotiation path, despite the participation of naval vessels from France, Germany, and the Netherlands in reinforcing the military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In Washington, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth tried to reassure public opinion that this war would not be an endless conflict like the Iraq War. He affirmed that the objectives are specific and operations are proceeding according to a studied timetable, despite the high cost and field complexities imposed by the direct confrontation with Tehran.
Finally, Netanyahu sent a direct message to the Iranian people, claiming that Israel seeks to liberate them from what he described as 'the yoke of tyranny.' He considered that 'the moment of truth' has come to change the political reality in Iran, at a time when scholars of the nation continue to issue statements rejecting the targeting of Iran and considering it a service to expansionist projects in the region.
We have a systematic plan to eliminate the Iranian regime and achieve many other goals, and we will continue the war with all our might.
שתף את דעתך
Netanyahu declares air control over Tehran and affirms continuation of war until 'the face of the region changes'