In a surprising public confirmation that lays bare the deepening coordination between Washington and Jerusalem in escalating Middle East hostilities, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has revealed that United States Air Force fighter jets and bombers launched attacks against Iran from Israeli military bases in recent weeks. The revelation publicly confirms what many regional analysts have long suspected: that Israel is serving as a critical launchpad for the Biden administration’s expanding military campaign across the region.
Katz made the remarks during an interview Tuesday with right-wing Israeli broadcaster Channel 14, noting that “The Iranians know” the American aircraft departed from Israeli territory to carry out the strikes. In a combative address, Katz also declared that “The arrogant empire that threatened to destroy Israel has collapsed,” before issuing a stark new threat to the Iranian government.
“We announced in the clearest terms that if Israel is fired upon, we will attack with all our might. We are prepared to strike Iran,” Katz said, adding that “We know how to manage things, and we are prepared” to handle any escalating retaliation from Tehran. His comments came just days after Israeli air defense systems intercepted at least three unmanned aerial vehicles near the country’s Jordanian border over Monday and Tuesday, a minor escalation that has stoked fears of broader conflict.
What makes this confirmation particularly notable is the carefully calibrated role Israel has taken in the latest round of US-Iran hostilities. Unlike the initial phase of conflict that began back in February, Israeli forces have not taken an active part in the recent wave of US and Gulf ally strikes targeting Iranian assets across the region. For its part, Iran has also intentionally centered its retaliatory attacks on US interests in the Gulf, avoiding direct strikes on Israeli targets to this point.
This dynamic has drawn attention from critics of the expanding conflict, who argue that Israeli leadership has intentionally pushed the United States to carry the brunt of military action against Iran. Prominent American commentator and journalist Tucker Carlson has been one of the most high-profile voices making this argument, and the sentiment is openly shared by senior members of the current Israeli government.
Influence Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the country’s hardline ruling coalition, openly acknowledged the strategic calculation on Tuesday in comments reported by Israeli public broadcaster Kan news. Smotrich described the restarted US military campaign against Iran as the perfect outcome for Israel, so long as Israeli citizens do not have to join the fighting directly.
“Israel has no interest in joining the campaign – the current situation is the best for us,” Smotrich stated.