Netanyahu says joint Israel-US operation seeks to change Iran’s trajectory

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel and the United States have begun a joint military operation against Iran to eliminate what he described as an “existential threat” posed by the Iranian regime.In a video message, Netanyahu said the “murderous terror regime” in Tehran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons capable of threatening “all of humanity.”“Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” he said.Netanyahu called on what he described as all segments of the Iranian people — including Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Baloch and Ahwazi — to overthrow what he termed “the yoke of tyranny” and establish a “free and peace-loving Iran.”He said the operation against Iran is significantly more powerful than previous actions and reiterated that Israel would not permit Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons.Israel launched the attack early Saturday under the name “Lion’s Roar,” declaring a “special and immediate” state of emergency across the country.US President Donald Trump later confirmed that American forces had also begun “major combat operations” against what he called the “Iranian regime.”The strikes come as negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program had been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva concluded Thursday.Last June, the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day Israel-Iran war.