JERUSALEM : Speaking during a visit to Bet Shemesh, a residential town around 35 kilometres from Jerusalem that was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile on Sunday, Netanyahu said the conflict has entered its third day under what Israel has named Operation Roaring Lion.
“This is the third day of Operation Roaring Lion, which the Israeli army and the State of Israel launched, together with our great friends in the US and President Trump, to thwart existential threats to Israel, and great threats to America and the entire world,” Netanyahu said.
The missile attack on Bet Shemesh killed nine people and injured more than 20 others after striking a residential neighbourhood, intensifying fears of a broader regional escalation.
Netanyahu asserted that Iran’s threats extend far beyond Israel and the United States, warning that Europe and other regions are also at risk. Referring indirectly to reports of an Iranian attack on a UK base in Cyprus, he said, “They chant, ‘Death to Israel, death to America.’ That’s their ultimate target. But I said that they would also target those in between, that they would target Europe. They did.”
The Israeli leader warned that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons combined with long-range ballistic and intercontinental missile capabilities would endanger all of humanity.
“If this terrorist regime gets nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them, ballistic and intercontinental ballistic missiles, they will threaten all of humanity. So we set out to protect ourselves. But in so doing, we protect many others,” he said.
The current escalation follows a joint US-Israel operation on Saturday that resulted in the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on Israel, killing about 10 people and injuring dozens more.
Netanyahu also expressed gratitude to US President Donald Trump for backing Israel during the crisis. “I want to say special thanks to our great friend and a great leader of the world, Donald Trump, for joining us in this crucial effort to save the world,” he said.
Netanyahu emphasized the global threat posed by Iran, stating that defending Israel is synonymous with defending the world. Following a missile attack on Bet Shemesh, he warned of Iran's nuclear ambitions and missile capabilities, which endanger humanity. He expressed gratitude to President Trump for supporting Israel in Operation Roaring Lion, aimed at thwarting existential threats.