Netanyahu: We Struck Iran and Beirut, We're Ready to Hit Again

In a dramatic and sweeping address to the nation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a fierce, uncompromising tone, warning Tehran and Beirut that Israel will never tolerate a "new equation" of deterrence, following a major exchange of fire over the past 24 hours.

Reflecting on a year of unprecedented warfare, Netanyahu mentioned a "historic preemptive strike" launched one year ago to neutralize Iran's nuclear ambitions and eliminate its supreme leader.

"We thwarted this immediate threat and we also eliminated the tyrant Khamenei," Netanyahu declared. "If we had not acted in time and with might, we would not be here today. And I commit, and commit again: Iran will not have nuclear weapons."

'Pulled Apart Hezbollah'

Turning his focus to the northern front, the Prime Minister outlined the sheer scale of the threat Israel averted from Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah had planned a massive invasion of the Galilee alongside a devastating arsenal of 150,000 rockets aimed at destroying Israeli cities.

"We thwarted this threat as well, and we eliminated Nasrallah," Netanyahu said, before praising frontline troops in raw, direct terms. "I want to say to you, our heroic fighters- how shall I put it? They are pulling apart Hezbollah’s form. We continue to destroy all of their terror infrastructure in the security zone."

Netanyahu highlighted the discovery of massive underground networks on the Beaufort Ridge, describing them as subterranean installations so vast that he had "never seen anything like them before." He asserted that while Iran and Hezbollah are weaker than ever, the struggle is not yet over.

Crushing the 'New Equation'

The Prime Minister addressed the dramatic escalation of the past 24 hours, during which both Iran and Hezbollah launched strikes against Israel in an attempt to force a new status quo.

"They thought they would fire from Lebanese and Iranian territory at Israel and that we would not act," Netanyahu said. "That did not happen, and it will not happen, not on my watch. As I have done for decades, I stand firm on our right to act against our enemies."

Netanyahu detailed his direct orders to the military in response to the aggression: commanding the IDF to strike terror targets and eliminate operatives in Beirut following Hezbollah’s fire, and ordering massive strikes against strategic "military and economic targets throughout Iran" following Tehran's direct attack.

Ceasefire on Israel's Terms

As of his address, Netanyahu confirmed that the immediate exchange had ceased, but placed the onus of keeping the peace entirely on the Iranian regime.

"Right now, the fire on this front is held, because after we struck the terror regime in Tehran, it ceased attacking us," he explained. "If the terror regime makes the mistake and returns to attack us, we will respond with might. Israel has the full right to self-defense, and we implement it as much as required."

Netanyahu concluded by noting that he communicates this firm stance with "appreciation and respect" during his "good conversations" with U.S. President Donald Trump, promising citizens that through unity and resolve, Israel will fully restore security to its northern border.

Correspondent Doron Kadosh noted that Netanyahu's account contains an inaccuracy on one point: Iran did not stop firing after the Israeli strikes. The last Israeli strike on Iran came at approximately 7:00 a.m., and roughly two and a half hours later Iran fired again at Israel. It was Israel that did not respond to that last Iranian salvo - not Iran that unilaterally stopped.

Meanwhile, moments after Netanyahu's statement concluded, drone infiltration alerts were triggered in Metula and Misgav Am in northern Israel.

In a separate development, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri reportedly rebuked Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during the security cabinet meeting, telling them: "Enough with the ideas about striking in Iran and Beirut. You also need to be realistic." Deri subsequently denied issuing a rebuke, saying he had made comments and remains committed to not leaking from security discussions.