Defense Minister Israel Katz said that a renewed escalation with Iran could occur "within two days," stating that the IDF is prepared and on alert to strike targets in Iran if ballistic missiles are fired in response to Israeli operations in Lebanon. Katz added that Israel will not interfere with the US president's course of action toward Iran.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday evening that a renewed escalation with Iran could materialize 'within two days,' warning that the IDF is prepared to strike targets inside Iran if ballistic missiles are launched in response to Israeli operations in Lebanon. Speaking to reporters, Katz stated: 'It could happen even within two days. We have targets to strike in Iran, and the IDF is prepared and on alert, but we will not interfere with the US president’s course of action vis-à-vis the Iranians.'
This latest warning sharpens a timeline that Katz has repeatedly narrowed over the course of Monday. At 18:01 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published that Katz said war with Iran could erupt 'as soon as tomorrow' and ordered the IDF to prepare for 'Operation White-Blue' in Iran. Within the same hour, he emphasized the plan allows independent Israeli action without American support. By 18:34 Jerusalem, his framing had evolved to a two-day window, as reported in the current dispatch. The progression reflects a consistent tightening of the expected timeframe for potential confrontation.
Katz's statements this evening build on a weeks-long pattern of escalating warnings. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, Katz declared the 'campaign against Iran is far from over' and that the IDF is ready to strike with 'great force.' On June 25, he warned that an Iranian attack on Israel over Lebanon would draw a 'full-force' response. The current thread shows Katz tying the risk to Iranian retaliation for Israeli operations in Lebanon, while signaling Israel will not act preemptively or disrupt US diplomatic efforts.
What remains open is the precise trigger: Katz conditioned Israeli action on Iranian ballistic missile launches in response to Israeli activity in Lebanon, but did not specify what level or location of operations would provoke such a response. Whether Iran's missile threat — reported by The Zioneer on June 20 as an ultimatum tied to Lebanon strikes — remains active or has been modified was not addressed in Katz's remarks.
6 developments
- DevelopingIsrael's Katz: Campaign against Iran far from over; IDF ready to strike Iran with great force
- StrongKatz warns Iran: Any attack on Israel over Lebanon will draw 'full-force' response
- StrongSenior Israeli security official: return to intense fighting with Iran likely in coming days
- DevelopingIsraeli official: If Iran plans to strike Israel too, we will launch the powerful air raid prepared two days ago
Source and signal
- Internal intake