Katz: US Air Force took off from Israel to strike Iran

The disclosure by Defense Minister Israel Katz marks a significant shift in the public handling of the strategic partnership between Jerusalem and Washington. Speaking at the Channel 14 security conference on Tuesday, Katz stated that American aircraft and tankers are utilizing Israeli infrastructure to launch kinetic operations against the Iranian regime. "The Iranians are firing at everything that exists in the area except for one country—Israel," Katz remarked, adding that they are aware that American planes are taking off from here to strike.

Strategic Shift and Censorship Concerns

This confirmation provides a rare level of specificity regarding the depth of bilateral military coordination. While the United States and Israel have long maintained a close security alliance, the use of Israeli soil as a launchpad for American combat sorties into Iran has historically been a closely guarded secret. The revelation has already sparked internal friction; according to reports in Israel Hayom, the military censorship authority had previously prohibited even hinting at such activity, leading to accusations that the Defense Minister may have committed a censorship violation in his public remarks.

Context of Regional Escalation

The statement comes amid a period of heightened military activity across the Middle East. As The Zioneer reported in mid-July, U.S. officials previously confirmed airstrikes against strategic Iranian infrastructure, including targets near the Strait of Hormuz and IRGC bases in Bushehr. Earlier in June, Israeli officials also acknowledged that precision strikes on Iranian missile sites were closely coordinated with Washington. However, those prior reports largely focused on the coordination of independent actions or strikes launched from other regional locations, such as Cyprus or Saudi Arabia. Katz’s statement today anchors the American offensive capability directly to Israeli airbases.

Implications for Deterrence

By publicly acknowledging that US strike operations are being launched from Israel, the Defense Minister appears to be reinforcing a message of unified deterrence. The move signals to Tehran that the military alliance is not merely one of intelligence sharing or diplomatic alignment, but a combined operational front. The confirmation that refueling tankers are also involved suggests that these missions involve long-range capabilities essential for reaching deep into Iranian territory. Analysts will now be watching for any official response from the Pentagon or the Iranian regime, as this disclosure removes a layer of ambiguity that has defined the regional conflict for months.