Has Israel Launched 'Operation Rising Lion' Against Iran to Eliminate Nuclear Threats?

Tel Aviv, June 13 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Friday that Israel has initiated Operation Rising Lion against Iran, a precise military campaign aimed at countering the Iranian nuclear threat to Israel's very existence.

He stated that the operation will persist for as long as necessary to neutralize this danger.

“In recent months, Iran has embarked on unprecedented actions to weaponize enriched uranium. If we do not intervene, Iran could develop a nuclear weapon within a very short timeframe. It could be a year, or potentially even just a few months. This represents a clear and imminent threat to Israel's survival,” Netanyahu conveyed in a video statement.

Israel executed significant airstrikes against Iran in the early hours on Friday, a move that sharply escalates regional tensions and raises the likelihood of a broader conflict between these long-standing adversaries.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Israel will never permit anyone who advocates for the destruction of the country to acquire the means to fulfill that intent.

“We targeted the core of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. We aimed at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponization initiative. We struck at Iran’s primary enrichment facility in Natanz. We also focused on Iran’s prominent nuclear scientists working on the Iranian bomb. Additionally, we targeted the essence of Iran’s ballistic missile program,” Netanyahu elaborated.

Netanyahu pointed out that last year, Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles at Israel, each carrying a tonne of explosives, threatening the lives of hundreds of individuals.

“Soon, those missiles could potentially carry nuclear warheads, endangering not just hundreds, but millions. Iran is preparing to manufacture 10,000 of these ballistic missiles within three years. Just imagine the impact of 10,000 tonnes of TNT falling on a territory comparable to New Jersey. This is an unacceptable threat. It must be halted,” Netanyahu warned, expressing grave concern.

Reiterating that Iran is devising a fresh strategy to annihilate Israel, Netanyahu stated that Iran and its proxies have attempted to encircle Israel with a ring of fire and launch assaults akin to the horrific attacks on October 7, 2023. He commended the people of Israel and the military for rising like lions to defend the nation.

“We dismantled Hamas. We incapacitated Hezbollah. We targeted Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. And when Iran directly attacked us twice last year, we retaliated within Iran itself. In protecting ourselves, we also protect others,” the Israeli PM noted.

“We safeguard our Arab neighbors. They too have been victims of Iran’s campaign of chaos and destruction. Our actions against Iran’s proxy Hezbollah have led to the formation of a new government in Lebanon and the downfall of Assad’s brutal regime in Syria. The citizens of those two nations now have a chance for a different, brighter future,” he added.

Emphasizing that the conflict is not against the Iranian people, Netanyahu stated, “Our struggle is not with you. Our battle is against the tyrannical regime that has suppressed you for 46 years. I believe the day of your liberation is approaching. When that day arrives, the strong friendship between our two ancient peoples will once again flourish.”

He further asserted that Israel will not permit the world’s most hazardous regime to obtain the world’s most perilous weapons, emphasizing that Iran intends to transfer these nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies. He stressed that if that occurs, it would make the nightmare of nuclear terrorism a grim reality, bringing that nuclear dread to the cities of Europe and ultimately to America.

Expressing gratitude towards US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu stated, “I want to express my appreciation to President Trump for his decisive leadership in challenging Iran’s nuclear weapons program. He has consistently asserted that Iran cannot possess a nuclear enrichment program. Today, it is evident that Iran is merely stalling for time. It refuses to comply with this fundamental requirement of peaceful nations. That is why we have no choice but to act, and act decisively.”