SouthernWorldwide.com – Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has signaled a strong readiness for further military action against Iran, stating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are on high alert and prepared to resume their campaign to regain air superiority and conduct independent Israeli strikes. This declaration was made on Thursday during a graduation ceremony for new pilots in the Israeli Air Force.
“If we have to return, we will return with even greater force,” Katz emphasized, underscoring a resolute stance on potential future operations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these sentiments on the same day, warning that Israel’s campaign against Iran was far from over. He also asserted that Tehran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, irrespective of any agreements reached with Washington.
“The war has not yet ended,” Netanyahu stated at the air force event. “Alongside the old challenges, new challenges are emerging. Axes are falling, and axes are rising. We are paying attention to this. We are prepared for every scenario.”
However, a different perspective emerged from two Israeli sources who spoke with CNN on Friday. They indicated that the Trump administration currently does not wish for Israel to participate in the latest U.S. strikes against Iran.
“Netanyahu would really want to join the U.S. strikes, but the U.S. doesn’t want Israel involved at the moment,” one of the sources revealed to CNN.
Israel initially launched a significant campaign against Iran in June 2025. The United States later joined these efforts, targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Subsequently, on February 28, the two allied nations initiated a new, coordinated military campaign against Iran.
While Israeli leaders are publicly projecting an image of military preparedness for another campaign, some Israeli officials and analysts suggest a limited appetite for renewed fighting unless it yields a clear strategic outcome.
Nadav Eyal, an Israeli analyst and journalist for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth, posited that the public warnings might overstate Israel’s eagerness to re-engage in combat.
Eyal suggested that domestic political considerations could make Prime Minister Netanyahu hesitant to initiate another round of fighting, especially with an upcoming election.
“If these strikes are meant to provide meaningful, strategic change, it is something the prime minister can sell to the public,” Eyal explained. “But if the intention is only to use Israel as leverage, why should Israelis again experience a couple of weeks or more of sitting in safe rooms and losing their summer vacations, children’s day camps and summer camps? That could play out badly for the prime minister politically.”
“The truth is that Israel was not really enthusiastic about another strike,” he added. “That doesn’t mean it is not going to happen. If President Trump demands that Netanyahu join, it is very hard to see the Israelis saying no. But right now, I don’t see any passion for it.”
Diplomatic outreach continued even as President Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran to be over.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
According to the Israeli prime minister’s office, Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone on Thursday. The statement indicated that the two leaders agreed to continue coordinating efforts across several regional fronts, with Trump briefing Netanyahu on American operations in the Gulf.
These military warnings coincided with a report by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, which stated that Israel had provided the United States with intelligence regarding an alleged fresh Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.
These developments follow a series of renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. naval officials described the maritime threat in the region as “severe.” U.S. Naval Forces Central Command reiterated on Friday that an expanded southern route through the strait remained open and that no authority could mandate passage fees for ships.
“The United States is still committed to finding a resolution, and technical talks continue,” an official stated. “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”
Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, a former senior Israeli military intelligence officer and now head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, commented that Israel had never considered the memorandum a sufficient guarantee.
“Israel should be on high alert, ready to face an Iranian attack and prepared to strike back if necessary,” he added.
For the moment, Israel’s leadership appears determined to leave both Iran and Washington with no doubt about their preparedness to act. However, the extent to which the United States permits Israel to participate in any renewed campaign could be a deciding factor in whether the current confrontation remains contained or escalates into another full-scale regional conflict.
