Jerusalem: Israel’s government has declared that its operation against Iran is far from complete, as Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that major military missions lie ahead and urged the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remain fully prepared.
Speaking at a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers, Katz said Iran was reviving its nuclear weapons program and continuing to plot attacks on Israeli territory. Israeli intelligence sources have alleged that Tehran is secretly accelerating its nuclear development, which Israel considers a grave threat to its existence and the safety of its citizens.
“When it comes to Iran, our mission is not over yet,” Katz said. “Instead of choosing the path of peace, that country is rebuilding its nuclear weapons programs and constantly devising plots to attack our territory.” He said Israel would not tolerate any threat to its sovereignty or the security of its people, adding that “major missions and military operations” were planned in the coming days, and called on both the military and the public to stand united.
Katz also issued what he described as a final warning to Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group and Iran’s key ally. He said that if a full-scale war breaks out between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah must not attack Israel. Should the group join Iran in doing so, he warned, both Hezbollah and Lebanon would face devastating consequences.
Katz further stated that Israel will not pull back forces from active border war zones, including Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. Israeli troop deployments, surveillance and military strikes will continue, he said, until the country and its citizens are fully secure and all military objectives are met.
The escalating tensions come amid significant shifts in Israeli domestic politics. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suffered a major political setback after his rival, Eisenkot, was invited to form a new government, a development that has drawn wide international attention.