Defense Minister Israel Katz disclosed at a Channel 14 conference that US aircraft operated from Israeli bases to strike Iran in recent weeks, according to a report by N13 / Army Radio. The military censor was forced to retroactively permit publication of the information. The incident has caused diplomatic friction with CENTCOM, with the IDF Chief of Staff reportedly apologizing to Admiral Brad Cooper, as The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday.
Defense Minister Israel Katz disclosed at the Channel 14 security conference on Tuesday that US fighter jets and tanker aircraft had taken off from Israeli bases to strike Iran in recent weeks, according to a report by N13 / Army Radio. The military censor, which had previously banned even hinting at such activity, was forced to retroactively permit publication of the information after Katz's statement.
The incident has generated significant internal friction. As The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday, the leak caused tension with the US Central Command (CENTCOM), necessitating a formal apology from the IDF Chief of Staff to Admiral Brad Cooper. The disclosure highlights the delicate nature of strategic coordination between Jerusalem and Washington amid the ongoing campaign against Iran.
The censorship violation itself has drawn attention to the legal framework: under Israeli law, only the Prime Minister — not the Defense Minister — is authorized to authorize the release of classified information. The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is expected to discuss the matter.
3 developments
- DevelopingIsrael denies Saudi report claiming Katz's remarks sparked U.S. diplomatic rift
- DevelopingKatz: Media hides Israel's achievements, government shows them to public
- DevelopingFormer Military Intelligence Chief Tamir Heyman Analyzes Implications of Katz's Sensitive Disclosure
- DevelopingRight-wing commentators accuse Defense Minister Katz of failures, deception
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