‘The face of the Middle East is changing’: Netanyahu thanks Trump for Iran strikes; claims ‘control’ of Tehran skies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and the United States had almost complete control of Iranian airspace after a series of coordinated military strikes. He added that the clashes were also caused by the attack on October 7, 2023.In a video message in Hebrew shared on X, Netanyahu described the joint operation as a major strategic success. “We have almost total control over Tehran’s skies,” he said.

The Israeli leader said the operation was carried out in close coordination with Washington and that U.S. President Donald Trump fully understood the threat he said Iran posed. “I want to thank my friend President Trump for the leadership he has shown,” Netanyahu said.

He explained that the joint operation, called Operation Lion, was aimed at neutralizing what he described as a direct threat to Israel. “In Operation Lion, our combined forces eliminated the imminent danger facing Israel,” he said.Netanyahu warned that Israel was facing what he called a serious and imminent threat from Iran. “We are facing an extremely evil regime that is plotting to destroy us with atomic bombs and tens of thousands of missiles,” he said.Netanyahu said Iran’s leadership is trying to secure its military capabilities by placing them in hardened underground facilities. “Khamenei ordered that these capabilities be restored and buried underground so that they would not be affected,” he said. “If that happens, he will use it to destroy the state of Israel and threaten the entire world.”He said the timing of the intervention was designed to thwart those plans and deter potential attacks on U.S. and Israeli interests. “Based on this vision, we, the United States, and Israel act together to thwart these threats and allow the Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands.”“There was a possibility that Iran would attack first U.S. targets in the region and then Israel,” Netanyahu added. “For all these reasons, we acted at the designated time.”Highlighting the results of the first week of operations, the Prime Minister said: “In the first week we eliminated dictator Khamenei and destroyed hundreds of ballistic missile launchers,” adding that this operation significantly “reduces the threat to the State of Israel.”Netanyahu said the offensive was also part of Israel’s broader strategy following the Oct. 7 attack. “We have turned Israel into a regional power. All of this requires courage, initiative and risk-taking,” he said.“As I promised you two days after October 7, we are changing the face of the Middle East,” Netanyahu explained. “But we changed more than just the Middle East. First and most important, we changed ourselves. Because in the wake of the monumental disaster of October 7, I decided to lead a pole shift, one after another of powerful, proactive and surprising actions that dramatically changed the balance of power between us and our enemies.“Turning to the situation in Lebanon, Netanyahu warned the Lebanese government to implement the ceasefire agreement and disarm Hezbollah. “I repeat to the Lebanese government, your responsibility is to implement the ceasefire and disarm Hezbollah,” he said.He warned that failure to act could have serious consequences. “Take your destiny into your own hands,” Netanyahu said, warning that “Lebanon will face catastrophic consequences” if Hezbollah does not disarm.Netanyahu issued a direct warning to members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “For Revolutionary Guard agents, you are also in our crosshairs,” he said. “Whoever lays down his arms will not be harmed. Those who do not lay down their arms will pay the price.”He also suggested that Israel has prepared additional measures aimed at weakening the Iranian government.Netanyahu has spoken directly to Iranian citizens that the conflict is a mission to liberate them from the current leadership. “To the Iranian people, we seek to liberate Iran,” he said. “But ultimately, liberation from the shackles of tyranny will depend on you, the people of Iran.”He expressed hope that relations between the two countries will improve in the future. “I believe that if you stand up at critical moments, the day will not be far when Israel and Iran can become courageous friends again,” he said.Netanyahu believes that Iran’s leadership poses a threat beyond Israel. “Today, everyone understands that the Ayatollah regime endangers the entire world,” he said, claiming Iran had attacked several countries in the region.He also criticized the United Nations for adopting double standards when dealing with regional conflicts. “Countries around us see the hypocrisy of the United Nations,” Netanyahu said. He said the United Nations “condemns Israel for no reason whatsoever in our just war against Iran’s murderous proxies in Gaza” but does nothing “in the face of the mass killings taking place in Iran.”Netanyahu concluded by saying that many countries now view Israel as a reliable partner and predicted that broader regional cooperation would be carried out in the future. “Many countries now know who they can trust,” he said. “Thanks to this initiative, we will significantly expand the circle of peace around us.”“Together we will stand firm,” Netanyahu added. “Together we will roar like lions and together, with God’s help, we will ensure the eternity of Israel.”