Israeli defence minister directs IDF to develop plan to stymie Iranian recovery
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Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday directed the IDF to formulate an enforcement plan against Iran, including steps to preserve Israel's aerial superiority, prevent the advancement of Tehran's nuclear and missile programs, and respond to the Islamic Republic's support for terrorism.
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'We will act regularly to thwart threats of this nature,' said Katz.
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'I suggest the defanged head of the snake in Tehran understand and beware: 'Operation Rising Lion' was only the preview of a new Israeli policy,' he continued. 'After Oct. 7, immunity is over.'
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Katz said the 12-day war would go down as a remarkable chapter in Israel's history and in the annals of global conflict.
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He highlighted that Israel had opened the skies over Tehran, targeting and neutralizing Iranian air defense systems, destroying nuclear infrastructure and missile production facilities, and severely damaging missile launchers. Additionally, Israel killed key Iranian security figures and leading scientists, effectively dismantling the decades-long plan by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to annihilate the Jewish state.
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IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Friday indicated that the damage inflicted on Iran would help further Israel's war objectives against Hamas.
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'The IDF completed 'Operation Rising Lion' to eliminate an existential threat to the State of Israel. We achieved all of our objectives and delivered a significant blow to Iran's nuclear program,' Zamir said during a situational assessment held in the Gaza Strip.
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'The damage sustained will have an impact on the entire axis, including Hamas, whose primary sponsor has now been weakened. There is a possibility that the strike on Iran will advance our objectives in Gaza,' he added.
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The comments came after a rare public statement by Mossad Director David Barnea, who announced on Wednesday that the spy agency would continue to conduct covert operations inside Iran for the foreseeable future.
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'We will be there, as we have been,' Barnea said. 'We've worked for months and years to carry out the necessary actions and reach the right moment.'
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In a video message, Barnea underscored that Israel's intelligence presence within the Islamic Republic remains extensive, calling it a strategic imperative for national security and regional stability.
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