"We May Return to Iran": Defense Minister Israel Katz Hints at New Strikes
Defense Minister Israel Katz hinted at a return to offensive operations against Iran, stating that further action may be required to ensure the regime never poses an existential threat again.
During a promotion ceremony for the next commander of the Israeli Air Force on Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered a strong warning to Tehran, suggesting that a new wave of airstrikes may be imminent. Katz emphasized that while Iran has suffered devastating blows over the past year, more work is needed to achieve Israel's strategic goals. "It is possible that soon we will be required to return and act in Iran to ensure the realization of our objectives," Katz stated, adding that the goal is to ensure Iran does not return to being a threat for generations to come.
The Defense Minister credited the coordination between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the driving force behind the current effort to reshape the regional reality. He noted that the Trump administration is leading the charge to ensure that the "Lion’s Roar" operation results in a permanent shift in power. Katz’s comments coincide with reports that new attack plans are being presented to the White House, aimed at neutralizing the "hardcore" elements of the Iranian regime that continue to block a diplomatic resolution to the war.
Katz also addressed the ongoing war in Lebanon, describing Hezbollah as an "Iranian proxy" that must be dismantled. He promised that the IDF would destroy all terror infrastructure in the "security zone" up to the yellow line, both above and below ground, just as they have done in Gaza. The Minister stated that the Air Force will play a "decisive weight" in removing the threat from northern Israeli residents, vowing to "crush the capabilities of Hezbollah throughout Lebanon" until security is fully restored to the Galilee.
The ceremony, which saw the promotion of the next IAF chief, served as a platform to signal the military's readiness for "any scenario, near or far." Katz told the incoming commander that the Air Force must be ready "at every moment and every minute" to act across all theaters. With the arrival of new strike plans at the White House and the IDF's continued operations on multiple borders, the Defense Minister's rhetoric underscores a period of high-stakes military preparation intended to secure Israel’s future for a "generation."