Israel's defense minister: Iran operation not over, threat remains

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that the operation against Iran is not over. Speaking at a memorial ceremony in Jerusalem, he explained that Tehran is trying to resume work on nuclear weapons, a threat the country cannot accept, The Times of Israel reports.

The statement came on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, at a ceremony honoring soldiers killed in the 1956 Suez War. “As for Iran, the mission is not yet complete,” Katz said. According to him, besides its nuclear ambitions, Iran is engaged in other serious activity that poses a real danger to Israel.

“We must be ready for any scenario”

Katz stressed that Israelis must be prepared for any turn of events and act as necessary to protect their citizens. The main tasks, he said, still lie ahead, so the country needs unity. The minister added that Israel's enemies should know that even amid internal disagreements, Israelis stand together against those who threaten the very existence of the state.

Katz belongs to the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu. However, he was not the one tasked with forming a government. That attempt is to be made by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, who wants to create a national unity government.

Tension over Iran shows no sign of easing

Iran continues to refuse to accept US demands, so the war is not over. On Friday, American aircraft struck the Iranian island of Qeshm and destroyed an air defense post there.

Ahead of the US congressional elections on November 3, fears were growing of new Israeli-American strikes on Iran. As The New York Times reported, the US and Israel are planning a short, intense series of strikes on nuclear and military sites, as well as on energy infrastructure. The aim is to force Tehran to accept American terms at the negotiating table. The strikes were expected to begin on Monday.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz