“This is truly historic cooperation..the U.S. Armed Forces and the IDF, the two strongest militaries in the world, control the skies over the world’s largest terror state.”

Less than a week ago, we launched Operation ‘Roaring Lion’.
For six days now, we have been striking the Iranian terror regime without pause.
The operation was planned in secrecy by thousands of soldiers across multiple IDF branches, in close cooperation with our ally, the United States.
The operation is proceeding at the pace we planned it to advance at.

In the surprise opening blow we carried out on Saturday morning, dozens of munitions were deployed against three targets. In just 40 seconds, approximately 40 senior officials of the Iranian terror regime were eliminated, including the regime’s leader, Ali Khamenei. His life’s mission was to destroy the State of Israel; he had a detailed program to do so.

To date, Air Force pilots have executed 2,500 strikes with over 6,000 munitions.

Within 24 hours, our pilots opened the path to Tehran.

We destroyed approximately 80% of Iran’s air defense systems and achieved near-complete air superiority over Iranian skies. Thanks to this, and to precise intelligence, we are striking the ballistic missiles directly threaten Israeli civilians. We neutralized and destroyed more than 60% of ballistic missile launchers, a significant achievement that reduces harm to the home front and saves lives. This is an ongoing effort. However, I emphasize: the threat has not yet been removed. Every missile is lethal and poses a danger.

After completing the surprise strike phase, in which we established air superiority and suppressed the ballistic missile array, we are now moving to the next phase of the operation. In this phase, we will further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities. We have additional surprises ahead which I do not intend to disclose.

We will pursue our enemies, all of them, and we will reach them.

I am in continuous contact with my American counterparts, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces, General Dan Caine, and the Commander of CENTCOM, Admiral Brad Cooper.
We are fighting based on shared interests and shared values. We are fighting shoulder to shoulder. They are true friends.
Through synchronized action, we are stripping the regime of its military capabilities, strategically isolating them and bringing them to a point of weakness unlike any it has known. This is truly historic cooperation.

As my friend Admiral Cooper said, the U.S. Armed Forces and the IDF, the two strongest militaries in the world, control the skies over the world’s largest terror state.

I wish to express my deep appreciation for the brave and determined action of the United States Armed Forces. On behalf of the IDF, I share in the grief of the families of the heroic American soldiers who fell in this campaign.

Iran is a danger to regional and global stability, and as we have seen in recent days, it poses a major threat to Israel, to the countries of the region, and to the entire free world. The longer we would have waited to act, the more protected Iran would have been and the more the danger would have grown.

We are also operating in the north. Hezbollah made a strategic error and, despite it directly conflicting with the interests of the Lebanese people, chose to join the campaign. Hezbollah is paying a heavy price. We are striking with force, on the front line and deeper in Lebanon. I instructed IDF forces to move forward and deepen the line of control along the border, while establishing positions at key points in southern Lebanon.

Tonight, we eliminated the head of Hezbollah’s firepower array. He is known by the alias “Fidaa.”
Fidaa was responsible for the deaths of many Israelis and personally commanded the anti-tank fire in the “Winter Sun” incident in January 2015 in the Har Dov area. In that incident, Givati fighters Major Yohai (Jocha) Kalangel and Staff Sergeant Dor Haim Nini, may their memory be a blessing, were killed.

There will be no more equations. We will continue to act to protect the security of northern residents. We will act without pause to remove the threat, and we will not let up on the objective of disarming Hezbollah.

Citizens of Israel, you are the source of the IDF’s strength.
I meet the fighters, the reservists, and the commanders. They know that a strong, united nation stands behind them.
I deeply appreciate you you. When you are strong on the home front, the IDF prevails in depth.
Your responsible conduct saves your lives and the lives of your families and it is an essential part of the operation’s success.

From here, I send condolences to the families of those murdered and wish a swift recovery to the wounded.

As I said when we launched the operation, this is a historic campaign whose purpose is to secure our existence and our future here - in the land of our forefathers - for generations to come. We will act however we need to to achieve this.
We will continue to act with determination and strength for Israel’s security and to ensure the eternity of Israel”.