In a troubling escalation, Israel targets Iranian nuclear facilities and missile programs, with implications for the broader Middle East.
Netanyahu Declares Prolonged Strikes on Iran Amid Rising Tensions
Netanyahu Declares Prolonged Strikes on Iran Amid Rising Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister pledges to combat Iranian nuclear threats in an escalating military response.
June 12, 2025, 11:17 p.m. ET — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that the nation had launched a significant military operation against Iran, framing it as a necessary action to protect Israel from what he deemed an existential threat. In a video address, Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces specifically targeted Iran's primary nuclear enrichment site in Natanz, alongside its ballistic missile capabilities and key figures involved in the nuclear program.
“This attack strikes at the very core of Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Netanyahu stated, asserting that the assault was a vital measure to prevent the development of a nuclear-armed Iran. The Israeli military action included not only airstrikes on critical infrastructure but also precision strikes against senior Iranian officials and military assets.
As warnings of possible Iranian retaliation echoed across the region, Israeli citizens took refuge in fortified bunkers and safe spaces, bracing for a retaliatory response that the government warned could come in the form of missile or drone attacks. The Israeli defense ministry escalated the national alert status and urged the public to prepare for an upsurge in hostilities.
Netanyahu justified the urgent military response by highlighting the ongoing conflict with Iranian-supported groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which he claimed had already spanned more than 20 months. He emphasized that immediate action was imperative to safeguard future generations. “If we don’t act now, there won’t be a next generation,” he declared, invoking historical traumas like the Holocaust to stress the severity of the threat posed by a nuclear Iran.
The Prime Minister concluded his address with a vow to ensure the survival of Israel, stating, “Together, with God’s help, we will ensure Israel’s eternity.” The announcement marks a critical escalation in a long-standing conflict, raising fears about subsequent responses from Iran and its allies in the region.
“This attack strikes at the very core of Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” Netanyahu stated, asserting that the assault was a vital measure to prevent the development of a nuclear-armed Iran. The Israeli military action included not only airstrikes on critical infrastructure but also precision strikes against senior Iranian officials and military assets.
As warnings of possible Iranian retaliation echoed across the region, Israeli citizens took refuge in fortified bunkers and safe spaces, bracing for a retaliatory response that the government warned could come in the form of missile or drone attacks. The Israeli defense ministry escalated the national alert status and urged the public to prepare for an upsurge in hostilities.
Netanyahu justified the urgent military response by highlighting the ongoing conflict with Iranian-supported groups, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, which he claimed had already spanned more than 20 months. He emphasized that immediate action was imperative to safeguard future generations. “If we don’t act now, there won’t be a next generation,” he declared, invoking historical traumas like the Holocaust to stress the severity of the threat posed by a nuclear Iran.
The Prime Minister concluded his address with a vow to ensure the survival of Israel, stating, “Together, with God’s help, we will ensure Israel’s eternity.” The announcement marks a critical escalation in a long-standing conflict, raising fears about subsequent responses from Iran and its allies in the region.
