Tehran Targets Civilians, We Strike to Protect Ours

“The terrorist regime in Tehran is shooting at civilians, and we are shooting at the terrorist regime to protect civilians,” Netanyahu wrote in a post published on channel X on Monday (local time).

He described Israel’s ongoing military operation as follows: Operation Roaring LionIt was designed to counter what it described as “existential threats” posed by Iran. Netanyahu added that the aim of the campaign is not only to ensure Israel’s security, but also to create conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow what he called the oppressive regime.

Expressing his support for the Iranian people, he said, “This day is coming, and when it comes, Israel and the USA will be there.”

Netanyahu also called on Israeli citizens to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, noting that this command’s guidance saved many lives. He expressed his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the clashes, wished a speedy recovery to the injured and praised the rescue and reconstruction teams.

“We will rebuild and we will build more,” he said.

Describing the operation as Israel’s mission to eliminate Iran’s threats, Netanyahu reiterated that the purpose of the military operation was to protect Israel and help the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom.

“We work together with the United States on behalf and for the benefit of all humanity,” he added.

The prime minister also warned that Iran’s actions pose a direct threat to regional stability.

“They opened fire on most of the countries in the region, and I said: ‘They also fired on Europe.’ “They opened fire on Europe,” he said.

He emphasized that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons poses a global danger.

“If this terrorist regime has nuclear weapons, it will threaten all humanity,” Netanyahu said.

Earlier, Netanyahu visited the site of Iran’s missile attack in Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem, on the third day of the joint military offensive against Iran. Standing amid the rubble of a civilian area, the 76-year-old leader framed the conflict as a global mission alongside the United States to neutralize nuclear-powered Tehran.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said it had completed three waves of strikes against western Iran targeting missile launchers, defense systems and other military infrastructure.

In a post published on X, the IAF stated that hundreds of munitions were dropped on multiple missile launchers and defense arrays, significantly damaging Iran’s missile capabilities. It was stated that the attacks aimed to reduce the threat posed by Iran’s missile attack to Israel.

The statement said, “As part of the attack waves, the Air Force dropped hundreds of ammunition on dozens of missile launchers, defense systems and additional fire devices used by the Iranian terrorist regime. To date, in Operation ‘Roaring Lion’, the Air Force has carried out dozens of attacks on the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile arrays and defense systems in order to damage the regime’s missile arrays and reduce the fire against the State of Israel as much as possible.”

The developments come amid rising tensions in West Asia following joint US-Israeli military strikes on Sunday that resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family.

In retaliation, Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allied countries in the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, expanding the conflict and increasing risks to civilians and expatriates.

Earlier, The Times of Israel, citing the Lebanese Ministry of Health, reported that at least 31 people were killed and 149 people were injured in attacks carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh district overnight.

According to the report, these regions are seen as Hezbollah’s strongholds. However, the health ministry’s figures do not distinguish between civilian casualties and the dead and wounded among Hezbollah members.