JERUSALEM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the Israeli air force is striking Tehran with "increasing intensity" and that operations will "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 has briefed senior military and security officials and issued instructions for the next phase of the operations.
"Yesterday, we eliminated Khamenei. Together with him, we killed dozens of senior officials. Our forces are now pounding in the heart of Tehran in increasing intensity that would only intensify further in the coming days," he said.
Netanyahu said the operations are being conducted with U.S. support, citing President Donald Trump and the U.S. military.
"This combination of forces enables us to do what I have long sought to do for 40 years," to strike Iran "decisively," he said, adding, "That is what I promised -- and that is what we will do."
The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Saturday, killing Iran's 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. ■
