Katz threatens to respond with “great force” to any Iranian attack

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned Iran that Israel is prepared to respond with “great force” to any attack launched against it, amid renewed escalation between Washington and Tehran.

Katz, speaking at an event hosted by the “Ynet” website and the “Yedioth Ahronoth” newspaper on Wednesday, said, “At present, they are carrying out strikes across the region, except against us... but there is a possibility that they will attack us. We are prepared for that defensively.”

He warned that if such an attack occurs, Israel will respond “with great force, independently of any other party,” adding, “Our aircraft are ready to take off.”

Katz also discussed the possibility that Iran might exploit the Jewish holiday period beginning in mid-September to launch attacks against Israel.

He stated that Iranians “like to attack during Jewish holidays because they hate Jews... but we are prepared both defensively and offensively, in coordination with the United States in this regard.”