‘The nation rose as a lion’ – PM Netanyahu praises citizens and soldiers, thanks US for 'historic victory’ over Iran

“Dear citizens of Israel, in the 12 days of Operation Rising Lion, we achieved a historic victory, which will stand for generations,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday evening.

After Iran's violations and massive U.S. pressure to restrain Israel from retaliating, the ceasefire between Israel and Iran seemed to be holding. Netanyahu turned to the citizens, praising their resilience, the armed forces’ heroism, and the substantial, critical support from the United States

“We removed two existential threats: The threat of annihilation by nuclear weapons and the threat of annihilation by 20,000 ballistic missiles,” Netanyahu stressed at the outset, reiterating his reasoning for ordering the surprise attack. “Had we not acted now, the State of Israel would have soon faced the danger of annihilation.”

“But this did not happen because at the decisive moment, we rose up and stood like lions, and our roar shook Tehran and echoed around the world.”

The opening blow of the war “will go down in the annals of Israel's wars and will be studied by every military in the world,” Netanyahu declared, before outlining some of the security forces’ key accomplishments.

“We destroyed the main enrichment facility in Natanz, the uranium conversion plant in Isfahan and the heavy water installation in Arak,” adding that “our friend,” U.S. President Donald Trump, issued an order and , “The US military destroyed the enrichment facility deep underground at Fordow.”

Israel also destroyed dozens of other components of the nuclear program, including “laboratories and factories for producing centrifuges,” as well as the main site of the nuclear archive, which “concentrated within it Iran's overall knowledge for producing atomic bombs.”

Israel “sent Iran's nuclear project to oblivion,” Netanyahu emphasized, “and if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild this project – we will act with the same determination.”

“With the same force and determination, we destroyed Iran's industry for producing ballistic missiles,” he continued. Israeli airstrikes demolished Iran’s missile production factories, hit missile depots, and “destroyed most of their launchers.”

According to Army Radio, Israeli strikes destroyed 800–1,000 ballistic missiles before they were launched, leaving the regime with an estimated 1,000–1,500 missiles – less than half its original arsenal.

In addition, Israeli aircraft hunted the missile launch crews to the extent they were forced to abandon the entire western part of the country, shifting all launches to central and eastern Iran – significantly farther from Israeli territory.

The prime minister also highlighted the “crushing blows” Israel directed at the “wicked” regime directly. Numerous senior commanders were killed, while headquarters and bases of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and the Basij were struck.

The four most senior officers killed were the commanders of Iran’s IRGC, the Armed Forces, and the Emergency Joint HQ, along with his successor.

In addition, Israeli strikes killed the commander of the IRGC Air Force along with his entire general staff, as well as Behnam Shahriyari and Saeed Izadi, two key IRGC Quds Force operatives.

“A few hours before the ceasefire, we struck the ayatollahs' regime with the hardest blow of all since the start of the war, with the hardest blow in its history. We eliminated hundreds of regime operatives in a crushing attack,” Netanyahu added.

Despite flaring tensions earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu stated: “Citizens of Israel, on your behalf, I thank my friend, President Trump, and the US, for their part in defending Israel and in removing the Iranian nuclear threat… I must tell you Israel has never had as great a friend in the White House.”

He highlighted the heavy price that the IDF Home Front Command paid during the war.

“We embrace the families of the fallen with infinite love. We all wish a full recovery to all who were injured, in body and soul, as we do for all those injured in this campaign since October 7.”

Twenty-eight Israelis – including one IDF soldier – were killed, and hundreds seriously wounded, in Iranian retaliatory attacks, the majority of which targeted civilian areas.

Hundreds of Israelis were left temporarily homeless as a result of the widespread destruction around impact sites. There were no reports of any serious damage to military installations caused by Iran’s attacks.

“In recent days, I have visited several of the cities that suffered considerable destruction by Iranian missiles. Many homes were damaged, and as I promised the residents, we will build them anew,” Netanyahu vowed.

The major targets that were struck by the around 500-550 ballistic missiles launched at Israel were Beersheva’s Soroka Hospital, the Bazan oil facilities in Haifa and the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot.

Throughout the attacks, critical infrastructure remained completely unaffected with electricity, energy, and water systems being fully operational.

Israel’s air defense systems intercepted 80–90% of incoming missiles during the barrages. Approximately 50 to 60 missiles struck Israeli territory, with eight resulting in fatal casualties.

Additionally, the regime launched more than 1,000 drones toward Israel – yet only one managed to strike a target, hitting an unoccupied home in the city of Beit Shean.

Over the course of the 12-day conflict, Iranian air defenses succeeded in downing only two Israeli Air Force drones.

“With the destruction of the Iranian axis of evil, we will open a path of peace and prosperity for the nations of the region,” Netanyahu said, vowing to generously compensate citizens for the damage and raise the Israeli economy “to new heights.”

“I wish to express gratitude to you, citizens of Israel. This is a moment of national pride, a moment of unity, a moment when every citizen in Israel can stand proudly and say: Together we did the unimaginable,” Netanyahu concluded.

“The nation rose as a lion. Am Israel Chai ['the People of Israel live']. And with G-d’s help – the eternal people will ensure the eternity of Israel.