Amid escalating hostilities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a direct video message to the people of Iran, calling on them to rise up against their country's ruling regime.
Posted on the social media platform X, Netanyahu's message urged ordinary Iranians to reject the grip of the hardline Islamist leadership that has controlled the nation for decades.
"It's time to overthrow the oppressive regime that has long ruled over you," Netanyahu said in the video. "Come together under your national flag and the legacy of your proud history. Unite your voices for freedom and liberation from tyranny. This is your moment."
Netanyahu clarified that Israel's recent military operation in Iran is not aimed at civilians but at neutralising what he described as threats from Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
On the night of June 12, Israel launched a surprise military assault on Iran, dubbed Operation Rising Lion. The operation targeted various locations, including military facilities, nuclear research centres, and even residential areas across Tehran and other regions.
The airstrikes reportedly killed at least 78 individuals, among them senior Iranian military figures: Armed Forces Chief Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Commander Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, and six nuclear scientists.
In response, Iran launched a retaliatory campaign titled Operation True Promise-3 on Friday night, firing hundreds of missiles toward Israeli territory. The counterattack caused significant damage and resulted in the deaths of at least four people.
Following the Iranian missile barrage, Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly sought shelter in an underground bunker, accompanied by his top security and cabinet officials.
