Iran exposed to strikes on nuclear sites: Israel Defence Minister

Israel’s newly appointed Defence Minister has warned the IDF could attack Iran’s nuclear plants, as Jerusalem prepares for a retaliatory strike from Tehran.

Israel's new Defence Minister Israel Katz. Picture: AFP.

Israel’s newly appointed Defence Minister has warned Israel could attack Iran’s nuclear plants, as Jerusalem prepares for a retaliatory strike from Tehran.

Israel Katz, former foreign minister who replaced Yoav Gallant as Defence Minister last week, told a meeting of the Israeli Defence Forces General Staff that Iran was “more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities”.

“We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal – to thwart and eliminate the ­existential threat to the State of ­Israel,” Mr Katz said in a post on X.

In my first meeting today with the @IDF General Staff Forum, I emphasized: Iran is more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities. We have the opportunity to achieve our most important goal – to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/HX4Z6IO8iQ

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) November 11, 2024

Iran warned last week that it would retaliate to Israel’s recent strike on its military facilities with a large attack, that would come before Donald Trump’s ­inauguration as US president.

Mr Katz has also declared there will be no ceasefire and “no break in the strikes against Hezbollah” militants in Lebanon.

However, Mr Katz told the forum of top generals that “if the possibility arises and a good proposal is put forward that would allow us to claim victory … we will certainly consider it very ­seriously”.

Mr Gallant was sacked last week, after clashing repeatedly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the wars against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Mr Netanyahu last month also rejected the idea of a ceasefire in Lebanon that would leave Hezbollah close to his country’s northern border, as the US ramped up pressure over Israel’s conduct of the wars in Lebanon and Gaza.

Mr Katz spoke as Lebanon said an Israeli strike on the northernmost Akkar region killed at least eight people in one of the farthest attacks from the border since war erupted in September. “The Israeli enemy strike on Ain Yaacoub in Akkar killed eight people and injured 14 others,” the health ministry said in a statement, giving what it said was a preliminary toll.

AFP