JERUSALEM, Israel, 11 April 2026 (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel has achieved “historic accomplishments” in its war against Iran and allied militant groups, citing the destruction of nuclear facilities, missile stockpiles, and the elimination of senior Iranian leaders.
In a televised address, Netanyahu told citizens that Israel had faced existential threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other regional actors but had turned the tide through decisive military operations. “They threatened us with destruction, and now they are fighting to survive,” he said, stressing that Israel’s actions had fundamentally altered the balance of power in the Middle East.
Netanyahu highlighted Operation Rising Lion and Operation Roaring Lion as pivotal campaigns. He said Israeli pilots, supported by US forces, struck deep inside Iran, destroying enrichment plants, missile launchers, and heavy water facilities. According to him, these operations prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and neutralized thousands of missiles that could have been launched daily against Israel.
The Prime Minister claimed that Israel’s actions went beyond halting nuclear progress. He announced that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his successor Ali Larijani, and multiple senior figures in Iran’s military and intelligence establishment had been eliminated. Strikes also crippled Iran’s petrochemical plants, steel industry, and gas production facilities, weakening the regime’s financial base. “We crushed the nuclear program. We crushed the missiles. We crushed the regime,” Netanyahu declared.
Netanyahu also pointed to successes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, noting the destruction of more than 150,000 rockets in a matter of hours and the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He said Israel had created security zones along its northern border to prevent infiltration and protect communities. In Gaza, Israeli forces now control over half of the territory, while in Syria, operations extended to Mount Hermon and the Yarmouk Valley.
The Prime Minister argued that Israel’s show of strength had shifted regional dynamics. He revealed that Lebanon had approached Israel for direct peace talks, conditioned on Hezbollah’s disarmament. He added that other Middle Eastern and international actors were seeking alliances with Israel, drawn by its military power. “Power attracts, just as weakness repels,” he said, claiming Israel had become the strongest regional power and, in some respects, a global one.
Netanyahu credited the alliance with the United States, particularly President Donald Trump, as unprecedented in scope. He said cooperation between the IDF and US forces had reshaped the balance of power in the region. “We initiated, we acted, we attacked,” he said, noting that joint strikes with American B‑2 bombers had destroyed key Iranian facilities.
Concluding his address, Netanyahu saluted Israeli soldiers, pilots, and citizens for their resilience. He praised the sacrifices of the fallen and the wounded, and thanked the public for standing firm. “Israel today is stronger than ever,” he said, vowing to continue operations until all threats are removed and a lasting peace is secured.
