JERUSALEM, Apr 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening lauded what he described as “enormous accomplishments” in the ongoing campaign against Iran, asserting that Israel, in partnership with the United States, is “systematically crushing” the Islamic Republic and neutralizing threats to the Jewish state.
Addressing the nation in Hebrew ahead of the Jewish festival of Passover, Netanyahu expressed confidence that the Iranian regime will eventually collapse. He also hinted at the formation of “new alliances with important countries in the region” to counter shared threats from Tehran, though he refrained from naming specific states.
“On the eve of this Festival of Freedom, Israel is stronger than ever. The entire world hears our lion’s roar in our struggle against the evil regime in Iran, a struggle in which we have achieved immense accomplishments,” Netanyahu said, acknowledging that these achievements come with “painful costs,” including the deaths of four soldiers in a recent ground operation in Lebanon.
The Prime Minister highlighted Iran’s decades-long attempts to destabilize the region through nuclear development, ballistic missile programs, and support for militant groups. Netanyahu claimed these efforts have cost Iran nearly a trillion dollars, describing it as money “down the drain.”
Drawing symbolic parallels to Passover, he likened Israel’s military operations to ten plagues inflicted on an “axis of evil,” including strikes against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Assad’s regime in Syria, and Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Netanyahu also listed key targeted figures in Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
The Israeli leader emphasized that Iran is now “weaker than ever,” while Israel has emerged “stronger than ever,” vowing that the campaign is “not yet over.” He claimed Israel’s efforts have awakened global leaders to the threat posed by Iran, with many now acknowledging the danger both publicly and privately.
Netanyahu reiterated the strength of Israel’s alliance with the United States, stating that combined operations, including ‘Rising Lion’ and the ongoing ‘Roaring Lion,’ have delivered “crushing blows” to Iran. He suggested that continued cooperation would eventually lead to the collapse of the Iranian regime.
The address drew mixed reactions domestically. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu as “arrogant,” accusing him of undermining internal stability while pushing controversial policies, including a new budget and a death penalty bill. Meanwhile, some analysts viewed the speech as laying the groundwork for a potential U.S. decision to halt the campaign, following hints from President Donald Trump that objectives may have already been met.