Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the Jewish people are determined not to become victims of a nuclear Holocaust. He emphasized the need to prevent the production of nuclear weapons at rapidly advancing sites.

Netanyahu reported that Iran had produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs and began making “steps to weaponize” the uranium in recent months.

“If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time,” he said during a video address Friday morning. “This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival.

Netanyahu claimed the weapon of mass destruction could be developed within a year.

“Today the Jewish people refuse to be the victims of a nuclear Holocaust perpetrated by the Iranian regime,” he said. “As prime minister, I made the clear time and again, Israel will never allow those who call for our annihilation to develop the means to achieve that goal.”

Israel’s preemptive airstrikes, dubbed Operation: Rising Lion, targeted nuclear sites across Iran, including its capital, Tehran.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of the country’s military, are believed to have been killed in the barrage, as were two nuclear scientists, Iran’s state media said, according to the Times of Israel.

The airstrikes destroyed radars and surface-to-air missile launchers in Iran, and explosions were reported at the Natanz nuclear facility.

Netanyahu said the airstrikes targeted the “heart” of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponization programs, its leading nuclear scientists and the ballistic missile facilities.

The two Middle Eastern nations had been in recent talks led by the US in hopes of stopping Iran’s production of the highly enriched uranium.

The talks stalled on June 4, when Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected the nuclear deal that would have allowed Tehran to continue its low-level uranium enrichment.

Khamenei asserted that uranium enrichment was in his country’s interest as he blasted the “arrogant” US.

“The proposal that the Americans have presented is 100% against our interests … The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?” the supreme leader said in a televised speech.

Another round of talks was expected to be held over the weekend in Oman before Israel’s attack.

Israel began preparing its overnight attack Thursday afternoon without the support of the US.

Washington officials were put on high alert leading up to the strikes.

Iran launched over 100 drones at Israel in retaliation.

Israel Defense Force Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir asserted Israel was at a point of no return after launching the operation.

“We cannot afford to wait for another time to operate, we have no other choice,” Zamir said at a press conference. “Recent and past events of history have taught us that when the enemy is attempting to destroy us, we must not turn a blind eye. We need to fight for our existence, freedom was given to those willing to fight for it.”

“I warn that anyone who will try to challenge us, will pay a heavy price, he added. “We are entering this operation together with one goal in front of us – to secure a safer future for the State of Israel and its civilians, in unified effort and faith, we will win.”