JERUSALEM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the Israeli air force was striking Tehran with "increasing intensity" and that operations would "intensify further in the coming days."
Speaking in a video statement from the roof of the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said he had briefed senior military and security officials and issued instructions for the next phase of operations.
"Yesterday, we eliminated Khamenei. Together with him, we killed dozens of senior officials. Our forces are now pounding the heart of Tehran with increasing intensity that will intensify further in the coming days," he said.
Netanyahu said the operations were being conducted with U.S. support, citing U.S. President Donald Trump and the American military.
"This combination of forces enables us to do what I have long sought to do for 40 years," he said, referring to striking Iran "decisively." He added: "That is what I promised -- and that is what we will do."
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said on Sunday it was preparing to call up 100,000 reservists to boost readiness along its borders with Syria and Lebanon, as well as in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and southern Israel.
The call-up, part of the Israeli-U.S. attacks launched on Saturday against Iran, comes amid the potential for escalation on multiple fronts, the military said in a statement.
The United States and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several other senior officials.
The joint attacks prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israeli and U.S. targets across the Middle East. ■
