Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has confirmed that Israel is bracing for a possible Iranian attack during the upcoming High Holy Days.
Katz said there was “every possibility” of a strike during the festival period and pledged that he is prepared to respond with “great force” should such an attack materialise.
He told a conference hosted by Israeli news site Ynet: “For now, they are striking throughout the region except us; there is a possibility that they will attack us. We are prepared for that defensively.”
Katz added that Israel is currently letting the United States take the lead in striking Iran, given Washington's stake in the Strait of Hormuz and regional energy security - but that Israel could be drawn back into the conflict at any point and is ready both “defensively and offensively”.
He also argued that Iran has a pattern of timing attacks to Jewish holidays, which he attributed to antisemitism, saying Israel remains prepared regardless of the pretext for any strike.
“If they attack because of Lebanon, because of the West Bank, because of Gaza, or simply because they feel like it, our planes are ready to take off,” Katz said
He also claimed that Operation Rising Lion, referring to the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran last year, had destroyed the Islamic Republic’s nuclear production infrastructure.
He added that Israel is now focused on ensuring Iran cannot rebuild that capability, and reiterated that Israel would not tolerate an Iranian nuclear weapon - adding that both Jerusalem and Washington would act jointly again if Tehran moved toward one.
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