Israel Says U.S. Bombers Used Israeli Bases During Strikes on Iran

Jerusalem (Terror Monitor) —Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that U.S. military aircraft used Israeli bases during airstrikes on Iran, while warning that Israel is prepared to respond forcefully if it comes under attack.

Speaking to Israel's Channel 14, Katz said Iran had refrained from targeting Israel despite launching attacks elsewhere in the region.

"The reality is that, at the moment—and this could change within an hour—the Iranian regime is firing at everything in the region except the State of Israel," Katz said.

He added that Iran was aware U.S. aircraft were operating from Israeli territory during the campaign.

"They know that American planes take off from here to carry out strikes," he said.

Katz stressed that the current situation could change at any time but said Israel's response had already been made clear.

"That does not mean we know what will happen tomorrow. It means we know what our response will be. I have stated it, the prime minister has stated it, and we have made it absolutely clear that if Israel is attacked, we will respond with full force," he said.

The fighting between Iran and the United States has been suspended since Friday following 13 consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes after the collapse of an April ceasefire.

Although Israel did not directly participate in the latest round of strikes that began with a wave of U.S.-Israeli operations earlier this year, Katz's remarks suggest Israel played a logistical role by hosting U.S. military aircraft during the campaign.