Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday evening that the IDF must prepare for a unilateral Israeli strike in Iran, codenamed 'Blue and White', that could be ordered 'at any time required'. The statement, published by his office, is the most explicit call yet for independent Israeli action against Iran, deepening the public codename campaign Katz launched in recent weeks.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a new directive Thursday evening, stating that the IDF must be prepared to carry out an independent Israeli strike against Iran, codenamed 'Operation Blue and White', at any time required. The statement, published via Katz's official channel, does not include a specific timeline or operational trigger but reinforces a series of public remarks by the defense minister over the past two weeks.
This latest announcement follows several similar statements by Katz, beginning with his June 18 interview on Channel 14 in which he first revealed the operational codename and said the IDF had been instructed to prepare for the offensive. On June 29, Katz reiterated the directive and added that external actors who were expected to join efforts against the Iranian regime were 'prevented' from doing so. The cumulative effect of these statements, now framed as an order for readiness 'at any time,' signals an intensified declarative campaign by the defense establishment.
The IDF separately confirmed Thursday evening that sirens in Avivim and Yir'on were a false identification, unrelated to the defense minister's statement.
3 developments
- DevelopingKatz: Iran's nuclear program eliminated, must ensure it does not return
- StrongNetanyahu: Israel eliminated nuclear threat, will respond forcefully if Iran attacks
- StrongDefense Minister Katz: IDF ordered to prepare for 'Operation White-Blue' in Iran
- DevelopingKatz says Israel thwarted Iran's nuclear program
Source and signal
- Internal intake