Tel Aviv [Israel], June 22: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump for authorising precision airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, calling it a “historic and bold decision” that would reshape the future of West Asia.
In a video statement on Sunday, Netanyahu hailed the U.S. assault on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, saying, “Congratulations President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history.”
Referring to Israel’s earlier offensive dubbed Operation Rising Lion, Netanyahu praised America’s unmatched military capability. “Israel has done truly amazing things. But in tonight’s action against Iran’s nuclear facilities, America has been truly unsurpassed. It has done what no other country on Earth could do,” he declared.
He added that President Trump would be remembered as the leader who took decisive action to prevent the world’s “most dangerous regime” from acquiring “the world’s most dangerous weapons.” Emphasizing the doctrine of “peace through strength,” Netanyahu said: “First comes strength, then comes peace. Tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”
The Israeli PM ended his statement by reaffirming the bond between the two nations: “May God bless our unshakable alliance, our unbreakable faith.”
Trump had earlier announced that the U.S. had conducted “massive precision strikes” targeting Iran’s most fortified nuclear installations, and warned that more could follow if Iran does not agree to peace. Iran confirmed that the three sites were hit and condemned the strike as “savage aggression” and a violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Tehran also accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of turning a blind eye to the attacks.
According to The New York Times, Fordow and Natanz are Iran’s principal uranium enrichment sites, with Natanz already damaged earlier by Israeli strikes before the U.S. operation.
The broader conflict between Israel and Iran has now entered its ninth day. The escalation began on June 13 with Israel launching airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites under Operation Rising Lion. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated Operation True Promise 3, targeting Israeli fuel facilities and energy infrastructure with a barrage of drones and missiles.