Jerusalem, March 8, 2026 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a pointed address to the Iranian people on Saturday, declaring that Israel’s military campaign is not aimed at partitioning the country but at freeing it from the “yoke of tyranny” and paving the way for future peace between the two nations. The statement came as Israeli and US forces intensified strikes on Iranian targets in what officials are calling Operation Roaring Lion, now in its second week.
In a live broadcast statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said: “The moment of truth is approaching. We do not seek to divide Iran. We seek to liberate Iran and live in peace with it.” He added that the ongoing operation would “create the conditions enabling the Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” and expressed hope that Iranians would “rise at the decisive moment,” after which “the day will not be far when Israel and Iran will once again be strong friends.”
Netanyahu framed the campaign as part of a broader effort to eliminate the existential threat posed by Iran’s regime, which he accused of endangering the entire world. “We will strike them without mercy,” he said, vowing that attacks would continue “with full force and uncompromising momentum.” He referenced a “well-prepared plan with many surprises” designed to undermine the ayatollahs’ regime and enable change.
The remarks were delivered against the backdrop of a rapidly escalating conflict that began on February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military infrastructure. Israel has reported the elimination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior regime figures, along with heavy damage to Iran’s navy, air force, missile capabilities, and oil facilities in Tehran. Netanyahu has described the operation as shifting from an initial phase (“Rising Lion”) to a more intense phase (“Roaring Lion”).
US President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, said American strikes had “severely weakened Iran’s military,” wiping out its navy and air force while reducing its rocket-launch capacity dramatically. He described the early phase as a “decisive blow” but did not rule out further escalation.
Netanyahu also used the address to criticise the United Nations and Western media for what he called hypocrisy, noting their past condemnations of Israel’s actions against Iranian-backed proxies in Gaza while remaining silent on Iran’s internal repression. He urged the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah in line with ceasefire agreements, warning of “disastrous consequences” for Lebanon if it failed to act.
The statement marks a notable shift in tone from earlier vows of unrelenting military pressure, with Netanyahu explicitly appealing to the Iranian public and rejecting any suggestion that Israel harbours territorial ambitions against Iran. Analysts say the message is designed to isolate the regime domestically while maintaining international support for the campaign.
As strikes continued into Sunday, with reports of new explosions in Tehran and heightened alerts across the region, Netanyahu’s office reiterated that the operation would persist until all objectives are met. The Prime Minister has repeatedly credited close coordination with the Trump administration for the operation’s progress.
The conflict has already drawn in wider regional tensions, including renewed warnings to Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon and reports of Iranian missile and drone activity targeting Gulf states.
For now, Netanyahu’s message to Iranians — liberation, not division — stands as the clearest articulation yet of Israel’s long-term vision for the campaign: regime change from within, backed by overwhelming external pressure.
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