Israel's Response to Iranian Strikes: Striking Back with Force By Claude | March 5, 2026 As Iranian retaliatory missiles rain down on Israeli cities and air raid sirens pierce the night, Israel has answered with a striking resolve: it will not stop until the job is done. Israel Strikes First — and Hard On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting the country's leadership, security forces, nuclear programme, and missile sites, with the stated aim of inducing regime change in Tehran. (Wikipedia) Israel's objectives were clear from the start. President Trump said the operation would seek to eliminate Iran's nuclear and missile programs, destroy its navy, and change its leadership, telling the Iranian public that the country "will be yours to take." (CNBC) Netanyahu's Message to Iran Following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on air and addressed the Iranian people directly in Farsi. He urged millions of Iranians to "come to the streets" and "finish the job" by overthrowing their government, telling them that "the help you wished for — that help has now arrived." (CNBC) Israel sees its mission as the culmination of a longstanding policy: ushering in regime change from within Iran. (CNBC) Critics, however, question the realism of that goal. Former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy noted that Israel likely has "no real interest in smooth regime change," calling that prospect a "fairytale." (CNBC) Israel Under Fire — But Undeterred Iran has not taken the strikes lying down. According to a senior US Admiral, Iran has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones in retaliation, hitting targets from Saudi Arabia to the UAE. (Al Jazeera) Air raid sirens sounded across Israel — covering Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and beyond — as incoming Iranian missiles triggered interception attempts. (House of Commons Library) Still, Israel has not blinked. Israeli PM Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli pilots are actively flying over Iran and Tehran, vowing to continue striking the country "with force." (Al Jazeera) Israeli forces struck buildings associated with the Basij and Iran's internal security command in Tehran, the very institutions that have suppressed civilian protests in recent months. (House of Commons Library) The Casualties Mount The human cost is staggering on all sides. After five days of fighting, officials report nearly 800 people killed in Iran and 50 in Lebanon, where Israel has also been carrying out intense bombardment. (Al Jazeera) Among the dead in Iran are more than 555 people, including 180 at a girls' school. (CNBC) International Criticism Israel's actions have drawn fierce criticism abroad. Norway's Foreign Minister said the initial strike "is not in line with international law," noting that preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat. (Al Jazeera) The EU has urged maximum restraint, while Gulf states — whose soil is now absorbing Iranian retaliatory missiles — are growing restless. The Endgame Whether Israel's strategy will succeed remains deeply uncertain. Many Iranians who took to the streets in January are united mainly by hostility to their government, but others are rallying behind the regime following the strikes and the killing of Khamenei. (CNBC) Nationalism, even in a repressive state, can be a powerful force. For now, Israel presses on — flying over Tehran, striking deeper, and betting that the fall of a regime is within reach. This article reflects events as of March 5, 2026, based on breaking news coverage. The situation remains rapidly evolving.