Israel Defense Minister Says Military Ready for Independent Action Against Iran

Israel’s defense minister said the Israel Defense Forces are prepared to carry out independent military action against Iran and have selected targets inside the country. According to Jin10, Defense Minister Israel Katz made the remarks in a closed-door briefing with military reporters on June 29, outlining Israel’s latest geopolitical and military strategy across multiple fronts including Lebanon, Iran, and the Gaza Strip. Katz reiterated that Israeli forces would maintain a long-term military presence in southern Lebanon. He also said Israel was closely monitoring steps in interactions between the United States and Iran. Katz stated that if Iran launches missiles at Israel, Israel would carry out what he described as a “shocking” retaliation inside Iran. He also said Israel could be in a state of war with Iran as soon as the next day. At the same time, Katz said Israel would not currently interfere with actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump toward Iran.