Israel Initiates Operation Rising Lion to Counter Iranian Nuclear Threat
Israel's Military Action Against Iran
Tel Aviv, June 13: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Friday the commencement of Operation Rising Lion, a strategic military initiative aimed at neutralizing the Iranian nuclear threat that jeopardizes Israel's existence.
Netanyahu emphasized that this operation will persist until the Iranian threat is effectively eliminated.
“In recent months, Iran has undertaken unprecedented actions to weaponize enriched uranium. If these efforts are not curtailed, Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in a very short timeframe—potentially within a year or even months. This poses a direct and immediate threat to Israel's survival,” Netanyahu stated in a video message.
In the early hours of Friday, Israel executed significant airstrikes against Iranian targets, escalating regional tensions and raising fears of a wider conflict between the two adversaries.
The Prime Minister asserted that Israel will not permit any entity that advocates for its destruction to acquire the means to do so.
“We targeted the core of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponization programs, including its primary enrichment facility in Natanz and key nuclear scientists involved in the Iranian bomb project. We also struck at the foundation of Iran’s ballistic missile initiative,” Netanyahu elaborated.
He noted that last year, Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles at Israel, each carrying a ton of explosives, endangering countless lives.
“In the near future, those missiles could be equipped with nuclear warheads, posing a threat not just to hundreds, but to millions. Iran is preparing to manufacture 10,000 of these missiles within three years. Just envision 10,000 tons of TNT impacting a nation the size of New Jersey. This is an unacceptable threat that must be addressed,” Netanyahu warned.
Netanyahu accused Iran of devising a new strategy to annihilate Israel, claiming that Iran and its affiliates are attempting to encircle Israel with a 'ring of fire' and launch attacks reminiscent of the tragic events of October 7, 2023. He praised the resilience of the Israeli people and military.
“We have defeated Hamas, significantly weakened Hezbollah, and targeted Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen. When Iran directly assaulted us twice last year, we retaliated within Iran itself. In defending our nation, we also protect others,” the Israeli PM stated.
“We safeguard our Arab neighbors, who have also suffered from Iran’s reign of chaos. Our actions against Hezbollah have led to a new government in Lebanon and the downfall of Assad’s brutal regime in Syria, offering hope for a better future for their citizens,” he added.
Netanyahu clarified that the conflict is not with the Iranian people but with the oppressive regime that has ruled them for 46 years. He expressed hope for their liberation, believing that it would restore the historic friendship between their peoples.
He reiterated that Israel will not allow the world’s most dangerous regime to acquire the world’s most dangerous weapons, warning that Iran intends to distribute nuclear arms to its terrorist affiliates. He cautioned that such a scenario would bring the threat of nuclear terrorism to Europe and eventually to the United States.
Netanyahu expressed gratitude to former US President Donald Trump for his decisive stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “He has consistently asserted that Iran must not possess a nuclear enrichment program. It is evident that Iran is merely stalling and refuses to comply with the fundamental expectations of peaceful nations. Therefore, we have no option but to act decisively and promptly.”
--IANS