Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday at the 'Wings Order' military ceremony that the moment he announced Israeli pilots were striking Iran was among the most emotional of his life, and called the assembled troops 'the generation of victory,' according to reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the Israel Air Force flight course graduation ceremony this evening (Thursday, 18:06 Jerusalem), described the moment he announced the Israeli airstrikes in Iran as 'one of the most moving moments' of his life and addressed the graduating pilots as 'the generation of victory.' The remarks offer the first direct, on-record confirmation from the prime minister of the Israeli operation inside Iran, which has been widely reported in foreign media but not officially acknowledged by Jerusalem.
Earlier reports from the same ceremony, published at 18:06 Jerusalem, first quoted Netanyahu declaring that Iran would not obtain nuclear weapons 'with or without a deal,' and attributing the prevention of such weapons to two Israeli operations. A subsequent report from the event added the prime minister's warning that 'the war is not over, new challenges emerge,' and reiterated Israel's continued presence in the southern Lebanon security zone. The latest reports now include the personal reflection on the airstrikes announcement, as well as the 'generation of victory' designation.
No further details were provided on the timing, targets, or scope of the airstrikes. The operation remains officially unconfirmed beyond the prime minister's statement.
4 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: We sent our pilots over Iran, changing a long-held constraint
- DevelopingNetanyahu announces temporary halt in hostilities after Israeli strikes on Iran
- DevelopingNetanyahu: 'I immediately understood it was a war' — his account of October 7 morning
- StrongNetanyahu: Iran regime fall is the real victory; Syria open to role in Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake