Israel is prepared to resume its military campaign against Iran with even greater force if needed
By Bernard Moerdler,
Israel is prepared to resume its military campaign against Iran with even greater force if needed, Defense Minister Israel Katz said at a pilots' graduation ceremony at Hatzerim Air Base on Thursday. "The army is ready and on alert for a resumption of fighting, in order to regain air superiority and strike again in Iran, to eliminate threats, including a third time if necessary. If we have to go back, we will go back, with even greater force," Katz said. He also said Israeli forces would not withdraw from the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the ceremony that the campaign in Iran was not over. "On the drawing board are new plans. Major operations are still expected to lie ahead of us. Be prepared," he said, adding that the military was closely monitoring developments in Iran and Lebanon and was ready for immediate action. Zamir said hundreds of Israeli Air Force aircraft had been on standby for immediate takeoff in recent weeks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at the same ceremony, said Israel's defense budget would be increased by some 350 billion shekels, about $116 billion, over the coming decade.
Topics: Iran, Lebanon & Hezbollah, Gaza
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.