JERUSALEM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said Israel will soon conduct large-scale strikes against "thousands of targets" linked to Iran's leadership in Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (File photo: Xinhua)

In a video statement, Netanyahu called Saturday's U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to topple the government, urging Iranians to seize the "operational momentum" and take to the streets.

Also on Sunday, Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Effie Defrin said that the military was operating since launching the operation on Saturday to create the "military and operational conditions for the overthrow of the Iranian regime."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced that Israel would escalate the attacks on Tehran. "Israeli aircraft are in a 'stand-in' posture over the skies of Tehran," Katz said in a statement. "From now on, Israeli warplanes will operate continuously to carry out powerful strikes in Tehran."

The United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Saturday, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran against Israeli and U.S. targets across the Middle East.

According to figures released by the Israeli military, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Iran with more than 1,200 munitions over the past 24 hours.