Israeli Defense Minister Admits Ongoing Fear of Iran's Missile Power
Yisrael Katz reveals failed plans, U.S. involvement, and Iran's strategic edge during recent conflict
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz has admitted that the Zionist entity remains deeply concerned about Iran’s growing missile capabilities, acknowledging the Islamic Republic’s strategic superiority, particularly in the latter stages of the recent war.
His remarks came during a press briefing with Israeli military correspondents on Monday, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12.
Katz openly stated that Israel is still afraid of Iran’s missile power, and that concern is mounting as Tehran continues to advance its long-range precision capabilities.
He emphasized that despite Israel’s aggressive stance, the balance of deterrence remains firmly in Iran’s favor, especially following the high-intensity conflict earlier this year.
Israel Had No Intention to Overthrow Iranian Government, Katz Claims
In a surprising admission, Katz claimed that “regime change in Iran was never the objective,” contradicting years of covert Israeli operations and political rhetoric aimed at destabilizing Iran. “We only sought to weaken them,” he said.
However, Katz also confirmed that the United States was fully aware of Israel’s contingency plans for a military strike on Iran, and that Israeli officials feared then-President Donald Trump might inadvertently leak the plans. Trump, he added, was reportedly surprised when Israel informed him that it was prepared to act alone if necessary.
To facilitate these plans, Israel requested and received aerial refueling tankers from the United States, Katz revealed. Washington also granted Israel clearance to operate in Iraqi airspace, and provided significant air defense support during the conflict.
Acknowledgement of Iran’s Advantage in Final Days of War
Katz admitted that Iran held the upper hand during the final days of the war, describing a shift in the strategic landscape that left Israeli forces unable to achieve their objectives.
He revealed that Israel had initially expected to reach peak performance in the first seven days of the war, followed by a balance in the next three days, after which Israel's power would begin to decline. According to him, Israeli forces could no longer hit targets inside Iran, while Iranian strikes on Israel’s internal front intensified.
A Failed Campaign in the Face of Iranian Unity
Katz made these admissions following the failure of Israel’s broader strategy, which collapsed under what he described as “Iran’s national unity and internal cohesion.” He conceded that Israel was unprepared for the resilience and coordination shown by Iran throughout the confrontation. (PW)
Source: Tasnim