Israeli defense minister says Israel ready to strike Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Thursday that Israel is prepared to resume military operations against Iran with even greater force if necessary, as renewed clashes between the United States and Iran threaten to unravel a fragile regional ceasefire. The warning, delivered at an Israeli Air Force pilots' graduation ceremony at Hatzerim Air Base, underscores the escalating tensions that risk drawing the region back into full-scale conflict.

Katz stated that the Israeli military is on high alert and ready to regain air superiority and strike targets within Iran to eliminate threats, even for a third time. He emphasized the long reach of the Israeli Air Force, claiming it can strike anywhere from Yemen to Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the same ceremony, echoed the stance that the campaign against Iran is not over, asserting that Iran had been weakened by previous Israeli military actions but remains a threat. He also announced plans to add approximately 116 billion dollars to Israel's defense budget over the next decade to boost domestic arms production.

The warnings come amid a collapse of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding and a...