Israelis woke up on Saturday to learn that Operation “Roaring Lion” had commenced, with U.S.-Israeli joint strikes targeting military facilities inside Iran. Within hours, satellite images circulated in Israeli media that appeared to show damage to a compound linked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah , reportedly hit in the initial wave of attacks.

Air raid alerts were triggered across parts of Israel as Iran launched retaliatory missile barrages. An Israeli military official, speaking on background, noted that incoming fire totaled “more in the dozens” per round, though no significant impacts had been reported at the time of the briefing. The Home Front Command urged civilians to follow updated safety guidelines and avoid sharing real-time locations of missile strikes.

During a Saturday morning speech, President Donald Trump condemned Tehran’s role in regional instability, saying, “From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq. The regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran’s proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, something like the world has never seen before.”

He further stated, “Iran is the world’s number-one state sponsor of terror… It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon.”

The Prime Minister addressed the nation, warning that “in the coming days we will be required to show resilience.” His remarks reflected a broader message from Israeli leadership framing the operation as necessary and potentially prolonged.

Israeli officials said the campaign’s goal is “to thoroughly degrade the and remove existential threats to the State of Israel.” The military cited Iran’s renewed efforts to advance ballistic missile production and conceal elements of its nuclear program as justification for the strike’s timing.

According to local reports, Israeli assessments indicate that Ali Shamkhani—a senior adviser to Khamenei and a key figure linked to —was likely killed in the operation. The military has not formally confirmed specific individuals targeted, noting that assessments are ongoing.

The Israeli National Security Council issued a warning to Israelis abroad, urging them to take in all destinations and remain alert to potential threats against Israeli and Jewish targets overseas.

Inside Israel, the reaction mixed tension with discipline. Schools in some areas shifted to remote learning, reservists received draft orders, and families checked that protected rooms were stocked. The military said approximately 70,000 reservists were being called up, largely for aerial defense, Home Front Command duties, and border reinforcement.

Officials stated that forces are deployed across all borders in preparation for possible escalation involving and others. While leaders stressed that targets are military rather than civilian, they acknowledged that the coming days could test the country’s endurance.

For now, Israelis are watching closely as developments unfold, bracing for further retaliation while leaders signal that the “as long as necessary.”