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Special Middle East Edition

Israel Attacks Iran

‘May God Bless the Forces of Civilization’: Netanyahu Announces Operation ‘Rising Lion’ to Roll Back Iranian Threat

Following the launch of Operation Rising Lion — Israel’s military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed decisive action, declaring Friday that the Jewish State will continue striking Iran “as long as necessary” to neutralize what he called an existential nuclear threat, concluding with a defiant message: “Long live Israel. Long live America,” and calling on God to “bless the forces of civilization everywhere.”

The Israeli premier framed the moment as a turning point in history, invoking both past atrocities and present dangers.

“For decades, the tyrants of Tehran have brazenly and openly called for Israel’s destruction, backing up their genocidal rhetoric with a nuclear weapons development program. In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atomic bombs — nine,” Netanyahu stated.
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Recent intelligence confirms that Iran has taken unprecedented steps to weaponize its uranium stockpile. Netanyahu warned that, if left unchecked, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a matter of months — or less than a year.

“This presents a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” the prime minister asserted, drawing a historical parallel. “Eighty years ago, the Jewish people suffered through the Holocaust, perpetrated by the Nazi regime. Today, the Jewish state refuses to be a victim of a nuclear holocaust at the hands of the Iranian regime.”

Reaffirming Israel’s long-standing security policy, Netanyahu reiterated: “Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal. Tonight, Israel backs those words with decisive action.”

As part of the military campaign, Israel struck key Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, including:

Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
Iran’s top nuclear scientists involved in bomb development.
Iran’s ballistic missile program, which could soon carry nuclear payloads.
Last year, Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles at Israel, each carrying roughly a ton of explosives. Netanyahu warned that Iran’s rapid missile expansion could soon equip these warheads with nuclear payloads, creating an existential threat to millions.

“Imagine 10,000 tons of TNT landing on a country the size of New Jersey — this is an intolerable threat that must be stopped,” he stated.
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Following the October 7 massacre, Iran’s previous plan to encircle Israel with a “ring of fire” failed, Netanyahu noted, adding that Israel devastated Hamas, struck Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen, and retaliated inside Iran itself.

“Our Arab neighbors, too, have suffered from Iran’s campaign of chaos and carnage. Our strikes against Iran’s proxy Hezbollah led to the establishment of a new government in Lebanon and the collapse of Assad’s murderous regime in Syria, offering the people of those countries a chance at a better future,” he said.

Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian people, distinguishing them from their regime: “Our fight is not with you — it is with the brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years. I believe the day of your liberation is near, and when that happens, the great friendship between our two ancient peoples will flourish once again.”

Warning that Iran intends to supply nuclear weapons to its terrorist proxies, making the nightmare of nuclear terrorism a reality, he cautioned that the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile program could soon extend the nuclear threat to Europe — and eventually America.

“Iran calls Israel the ‘small Satan’ and America the ‘great Satan.’ For decades, Iran has led millions in chants of ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America.’ Today, Israel responds to those calls with action — and with our own call: Long live Israel. Long live America,” Netanyahu stated.

He also praised President Donald Trump for confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “he has made it clear, time and again, that Iran cannot have a nuclear enrichment program.”
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Calling Iran’s nuclear diplomacy a delaying tactic, Netanyahu declared that Israel must act now.

“Today, it is clear Iran is merely buying time, refusing to agree to this basic requirement of peaceful nations,” he said. “That is why we must act — and act now.”

Reflecting on past failures to confront rising threats, Netanyahu recalled how global leaders hesitated to challenge Hitler, leading to World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history.

“After that war, the Jewish people and the Jewish state vowed: Never again. Well, never again is now,” he warned.

Israel’s actions, the Israeli prime minister explained, stem from historical lessons: “When enemies vow to destroy you, believe them. When enemies build weapons of mass destruction, stop them.”

Quoting biblical doctrine, Netanyahu reminded Israelis of their duty: “When someone comes to kill you, rise and act first.”

“This is exactly what Israel has done today,” he continued. “We have risen like lions to defend ourselves.”

Echoing Moses’s ancient call, Netanyahu urged Israelis to be strong and courageous, adding: “Generations from now, history will record that our generation stood its ground, acted in time, and secured our common future.”

He concluded with a final call: “May God bless Israel. May God bless the forces of civilization everywhere.”

The operation continues, with Israeli forces striking additional Iranian military assets as tensions between Israel and Iran reach an unprecedented level.

Report: Israel Declares State of Emergency After Launching Strike on Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared a state of emergency after launching a strike on Iran, according to several reports.

“Two sources with knowledge of the operation” told Axios that Israel had carried out a strike on Iran.

Per the outlet, “it’s not clear whether Israel has ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.”

ABC News reported that Katz had declared “a special state of emergency in the country following what he called a preemptive strike against Iran.”
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Video footage posted to social media showed smoke reportedly “rising from several sites across” Iran’s capital of Tehran.
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Breitbart News previously reported that President Donald Trump expressed that he did not want Israel to launch an attack on Iran if there was a way to strike a deal with Iran regarding its nuclear program.

“I want to have an agreement with Iran,” Trump said on Thursday. “We’re fairly close to an agreement. We are fairly close to a pretty good agreement, it’s got to be better than pretty good. I’d much prefer an agreement. As long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them going in.”
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Cruz: Iran Flipped Trump Off, Forced Israel to Strike Now by Expanding Enrichment

On Thursday’s broadcast of Newsmax TV’s “Greg Kelly Reports,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) stated that Iran made the Israeli strikes on it “inevitable” by vowing to expand enrichment, “And the effect of that was a giant middle finger to President Trump. And it was also telling Israel, you had better strike now, because if you wait any longer, we will have a nuclear weapon and we will use that to murder millions of your citizens.”

Cruz said, “I think, in many ways, what happened tonight was inevitable. It was inevitable because Iran, the ayatollah is a theocratic zealot who chants death to America and death to Israel, and, earlier today, he put us on this path, inevitably. President Trump had said repeatedly that Iran must completely dismantle their nuclear centrifuges, that they could either do so voluntarily through diplomatic measures, or the centrifuges would be dismantled through warfare. And, this morning, Iran put out a statement, said they would not dismantle their centrifuges, they were going to build more, they were going to enrich more uranium, and they were charging towards a nuclear weapon.”

He continued, “And the effect of that was a giant middle finger to President Trump. And it was also telling Israel, you had better strike now, because if you wait any longer, we will have a nuclear weapon and we will use that to murder millions of your citizens. And I think that’s — we’re seeing the direct consequences of Iran’s defiance and their genocidal desire to murder as many Israelis as possible.”

Israeli Amb.: Iran Was Moving with ‘Military Plan’ to Attack During Talks

On Thursday’s broadcast of CNN’s “The Source,” Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon stated that Israel’s strikes against Iran earlier that day were undertaken because Iran was “plotting” “to attack us with nuclear capabilities.” And while Iran was engaging in negotiations with other nations, “they moved secretly with a military plan to attack Israel. And what we did was an act of self-defense.”

Danon said, “[W]e took a preemptive attack to defend ourselves and we are targeting the nuclear facilities and their ballistic missile centers in Iran. … We decided not to wait for Iran to attack us with nuclear capabilities. We knew that they were plotting to do that. And while they were talking with many countries and negotiating, they moved secretly with a military plan to attack Israel. And what we did was an act of self-defense.”

Danon further stated that Israel is protecting itself from “another Holocaust.”

Danon also stated that Israel’s goal is to deny Iran a nuclear capability and ensure that they don’t have ballistic missiles and also stated that Israel is particularly determined to act preemptively after the October 7 attacks and not wait for attacks to happen.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Chief Killed in Israel Strike, State Media Says

The commander in chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, General Hossein Salami, has been killed in Israel's strike, state media reported local time Friday.

Newsweek previously reached out to the White House via email for comment regarding the attack.

Why It Matters

Tensions in the region have escalated as Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh previously warned that Iran could attack U.S. bases if nuclear talks break down with President Donald Trump's administration or if hostilities continue to mount.

What To Know

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz first announced the strikes in a statement, saying that he initiated "a special state of emergency" in Israel following a "preemptive strike against Iran" and warned of potential drone and missile attacks against Israel and civilians.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed up with a statement: "Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region."

Rubio added: "Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel."

It was reported on Wednesday that the United States Embassy in Baghdad was also preparing for an ordered evacuation of nonessential personnel amid security threats in the region.

Salami leveled a threat to the United States last month, saying Iran would "open the gates of hell" if attacked by Israel or America.

He then took a swipe at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asserting that he was trying to pull the United States into an "unending war." The general said that Iran was prepared to fight but was also still prioritizing diplomacy at the time.

An Israeli military official previously told Newsweek that the strikes were part of "Operation Rising Lion," conducted after intelligence indicated that Iran had enough material to produce 15 nuclear bombs.

The operation Friday morning local time is reported to have involved dozens of attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities, military sites and military personnel.

Iran Prepares 'Decisive Response' to Massive Israeli Attack

Iran is preparing a substantial response to a large-scale attack conducted by Israel against key sites and personnel associated with the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and military, according to official Iranian media.

"Iran's response to the Zionist regime early Friday morning attacks will be decisive," state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) cited an unnamed official as saying in the aftermath of the Israeli attacks.

Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson General Abolfazl Shekarchi also told IRNA that Israel would be met with a severe response, while alleging that the United States played a role in the assault.

"The Zionist enemy, who carried out this action with the support of America and attacked residential areas, will pay a heavy price," Shekarchi said.

Another unnamed Iranian official was cited by Reuters as saying that "the response to the Israeli attack will be harsh and decisive," adding that consultations regarding the scope and timing of retaliation were being discussed at the highest levels."
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The attacks marked the most serious escalation yet in rising tensions between archenemies Iran and Israel, which twice last year exchanged direct strikes amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

The prior Iranian operations, known as "Operation True Promise I" and "Operation True Promise II," both saw hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones launched against Israel in April and May of last year, respectively. In both instances, the U.S. and several other nations came to Israel's defense in intercepting the incoming salvo, but damage was reported to several sites.

While previous Israeli attacks largely focused on military sites in Iran, the latest strikes, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," involved dozens of attacks on military and nuclear infrastructure as well as personnel, including the head of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami.

Others reported by Iranian media to have been killed in the Israeli strikes include nuclear scientists Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi.
In the immediate aftermath of the strikes, an Israeli military official told Newsweek that intelligence had concluded Iran had obtained sufficient capabilities to produce 15 nuclear bombs, presenting an "existential threat" to Israel.

Iranian officials have always denied seeking nuclear weapons. The country's nuclear program was subject to extensive restrictions in exchange for sanctions relief as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached in 2015 under then-U.S. President Barack Obama, but the deal was abandoned by President Donald Trump in 2018.

After former President Joe Biden failed to reach an agreement to revitalize U.S. participation in the JCPOA, Trump has sought to reach a new accord that would introduce stringent checks on Iran's nuclear program. Representatives from Washington and Tehran have held five meetings, with a sixth scheduled to take place Sunday in Oman.

But the Israeli military official with whom Newsweek spoke Thursday alleged that Iran was simultaneously advancing toward a nuclear weapon, approaching the "point of no return." The same phrase was included in a statement later issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) detailing suspected Iranian nuclear weapons progress.

"In recent months, accumulated intelligence information has provided evidence that the Iranian regime is approaching the point of no return," the IDF statement said. "The convergence of the Iranian regime's efforts to produce thousands of kilograms of enriched uranium, alongside decentralized and fortified enrichment compounds in underground facilities, enables the Iranian regime to enrich uranium to military-grade levels, enabling the regime to obtain a nuclear weapon within a short period of time."

"Additionally," the IDF added, "in recent years, and more so since the beginning of the war, concrete progress has been identified in the Iranian regime's efforts to produce weapons components adapted for a nuclear bomb."