Netanyahu thanks 'great friend' Trump as signs mount Khamenei 'is no longer'

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his nation on Saturday, February 28, and the global community following the launch of a massive military offensive against the Iranian regime. 

Leading his remarks with a message of gratitude to the White House, Netanyahu thanked "our great friend, President Donald Trump, for his historic leadership" in initiating the joint operation.

The prime minister confirmed that Israel and the United States had officially embarked on a mission to remove the "existential threat" posed by Tehran.

Netanyahu characterized the transition to active combat as a necessary response to nearly five decades of aggression and nuclear ambitions by the Ayatollahs.

Netanyahu urges Iranians to 'finish the job'

In an update, Netanyahu revealed there were many signs indicating that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was "no longer" after the initial wave of the joint assault.

While he did not explicitly confirm Khamenei's death, the prime minister noted that Israel had successfully destroyed the supreme leader's compound.

Netanyahu used the address to issue a direct call to the people of Iran, urging them to seize this "once-in-a-generation opportunity."

"The moment has come," he said, calling on Iranian citizens to "flood the streets and finish the job" of toppling the regime that had embittered their lives for generations.

Ending forty-seven years of tyranny

Netanyahu reminded citizens that for 47 years, the current Iranian leadership had chanted "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" while spilling the blood of both nations.

He asserted that the regime had not only targeted foreign adversaries but had also systematically massacred its own people.

A central pillar of the joint strategy, according to the prime minister, was ensuring that Iran was never permitted to arm itself with nuclear weapons. 

He warned that such an arsenal would enable the regime to threaten all of humanity, which necessitated the current intervention led by President Trump.

Empowering the Iranian people's freedom

The prime minister stated that the joint operation, known as 'Lion's Roar' in Israel, would create the conditions for the Iranian people to "take their fate into their own hands." 

He called on all segments of the Iranian population to cast off the "yoke of tyranny."

Netanyahu expressed a vision for a future where freedom and "peace-loving values" would be restored to Iran. By dismantling the current power structure, the administration and its allies hoped to foster a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Standing together for Israel's eternity

As the operation proceeded, Netanyahu urged Israeli citizens to show "patience and strength of spirit" while following all instructions from the Home Front Command.

He emphasized that the coming days would require a unified national effort to ensure the success of the military campaign.

"Together we will stand, together we will fight," Netanyahu declared, concluding that the joint efforts of the US and Israel would ensure the "eternity of Israel."

The prime minister remained in close coordination with the White House as 'Lion's Roar' continued to unfold across the region.