At missile impact site, Netanyahu calls Iranian regime ‘enemy of civilization,’ urges world leader to unite against Islamic Republic

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of the ballistic missile attacks in Arad and Dimona on Sunday, where he called the Iranian regime “the enemy of civilization.” 

“If anyone needed an explanation of why Iran is the enemy of civilization, and the enemy and the danger to the entire world, you got it in the last 48 hours,” Netanyahu said while in Dimona. “In the last 48 hours, they fired a terror weapon on civilians, on children.” 

Netanyahu also noted that Iran “fired on Jerusalem right next to the holy places.” 

“They sent ballistic missiles that could have destroyed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Western Wall,” he continued. “The three holiest sites to the three monotheistic religions, they don't care. They're firing on everything.” 

The prime minister also noted that Iran launched a long-range ballistic missile at the joint U.S.-British base of Diego Garcia. 

“They fired an intercontinental ballistic missile 4,000 kilometers right into Diego Garcia, the American-British base,” he continued, adding, this demonstrates Iran’s ability to reach “almost everywhere in Europe.” 

“I've been warning that for years,” he stated. 

Netanyahu addressed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most maritime traffic. 

“I ask the leaders of the world, the leaders of the free world, the leaders of the moderate states, what more are you waiting for?” Netanyahu asked. “President Trump has correctly said that Israel, the United States and Israel in this great partnership, we're fighting the battle not only for ourselves, but for all of you.” 

“And it's time to heed President Trump's call, his leadership and his vision, not merely for our sake, but for your sake,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli top leader answered questions from several reporters at the scene of the missile attacks.  

When asked about Israel’s response, he said, “We’re responding with great force, but not on civilians. We're going after the regime. We're going after the IRGC, this criminal gang, and we're going after them personally, their leaders, their installations, their economic assets.” 

Dear people on the internet who believed and even spread the news that Netanyahu was taken out by the IRGC, you really are a special kind of dumb.

Anyway, he’s back from the dead. Again. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/CNvUJHORJw

— Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) March 22, 2026

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also visited the sites of the overnight missile attacks, highlighting the “strong resilience of the Israeli people. 

“I want to say to say to our enemies out there in Iran: you are mistaken. You keep on carrying out crimes against humanity by sending missiles to kill human beings, not differentiating between anything – age and gender, religion, or even the disabilities that they may have. You are wrong,” Herzog said. “We have always shown strong resilience. We know that your leadership is in havoc and disarray, and we are sure, absolutely adamantly sure, that not only shall we overcome, but you will fall flat on your face.” 

President Herzog also pointed to the recent missile launch at Diego Garcia as justifying America's involvement in the war. 

“If you see that Iran launched a 4,000-kilometer missile, 2,500 miles, to Diego Garcia, you understand what President Trump said that there's a threat to the United States and its security interest is clear,” Herzog commented. 

Like Netanyahu, Herzog pointed out that Israel’s fight against Iran is “protecting Europe and the free world.” 

“Obviously, this empire of evil has no limitations, and that is why this war is so vital and crucial for the future of the world,” he stated. “We are from here, protecting Europe and protecting the free world.” 

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also visited Arad, emphasizing, along with Netanyahu and Herzog, the civilian nature of the impact location, adding that the Islamic Republic is committing war crimes.

“You can see here very clearly the war crimes of the Iranian regime. You can see a totally civil neighborhood, no military dimension,” he noted. “And the Iranian regime is solely and deliberately targeting civilians and civilian populations without any exception from the beginning of this operation, a bit more than three weeks ago. We didn't have even one casualties from Iranian attacks from the military forces. All the casualties from Iranian attacks, without an exception, are civilians.” 

“So from that simple fact, you can understand the strategy. The strategy is to shoot on civilian populations in order to increase the number of civilian casualties,” Sa’ar continued. “All of these attacks doesn't have any military meaning or significance whatsoever. The only target, the only objective is to hurt as many civilians as possible.”