Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City on September 26, 2025. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will continue its military campaign against Iran with full strength, stating that Israeli and United States forces have nearly taken control of the skies over Tehran after a week of intense airstrikes.
In a televised address on Saturday, Netanyahu said Israel had developed a clear strategy aimed at dismantling the Iranian leadership while pursuing other military objectives.
He thanked Israeli citizens and soldiers for their support and determination, saying the government would push forward with the campaign until its goals were achieved.
The war reportedly began last Saturday when Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes on Tehran that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Netanyahu, the ongoing bombing operations by Israeli and American air forces have enabled them to gain almost total dominance of Tehran’s airspace.
Addressing Iranian citizens directly, the Israeli leader said the conflict marked a decisive moment, claiming the operation was intended to free them from what he described as oppressive rule. He also stated that Israel’s military actions were reshaping the balance of power across the Middle East.
Earlier, Israel’s military revealed that about 3,400 strikes had been carried out across Iran during the first week of the war, with roughly 7,500 munitions deployed in the attacks.
Meanwhile, developments within Iran suggest that the country could soon appoint a new supreme leader. A member of the Assembly of Experts, Hossein Mozafari, said the council could meet within 24 hours to begin the selection process.
Mozafari urged citizens to avoid spreading rumours about the succession, noting that the assembly had yet to officially convene.
In a related development, the United States condemned Iran for launching drone attacks earlier in the week near Azerbaijan’s border region. According to the US State Department, the strikes targeted an airport and a school in Nakhchivan, injuring several civilians.
US officials described the attack as an unnecessary escalation and a violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, warning that assaults on American allies in the region would trigger firm support from Washington.
Source: AFP
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