Defense Minister Israel Katz said in an interview with Channel 14 that the US Air Force has taken off from Israel to strike Iran. "We announced in the clearest terms that if Israel is fired upon, we will attack with all our might. We are prepared to strike Iran," Katz warned.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in an interview with Channel 14 on Tuesday afternoon that the US Air Force has taken off from Israel to strike Iran, warning that 'We announced in the clearest terms that if Israel is fired upon, we will attack with all our might. We are prepared to strike Iran.' The statement builds on earlier remarks by Katz at 12:22 Jerusalem, when initial reports from journalist Amit Segal (N12) revealed that American fighter jets were operating from Israeli territory against Iran. Within the same hour, Katz confirmed at the Channel 14 security conference that American aircraft and tankers had taken off from Israeli bases, and later posted a video statement asserting that Iran is not retaliating against the strikes.
The evolution of the announcement was rapid: an unverified report from a single journalist was immediately followed by official confirmation from the Defense Minister himself, lending the claim high credibility. By 12:22 Jerusalem, the story had been updated multiple times as Katz continued to elaborate on the operation. The Zioneer's earlier reporting at 12:26 Jerusalem noted that Katz also stated Israel is fully prepared to execute Operation White-Blue, the military's contingency for offensive strikes inside Iran, and is awaiting American approval to target Iranian energy infrastructure.
Over recent weeks, Katz has repeatedly warned that the campaign against Iran is 'far from over' and that the IDF is ready to strike alone if necessary, as The Zioneer has reported. The defense minister's latest remarks suggest that a US-led operation from Israel is already in motion, though the exact scope and timing of the strikes remain unclear.
No official confirmation from the Pentagon or the White House has been published, and the claim that US Air Force assets have taken off from Israel cannot be independently verified.
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