Speaking as military tensions between Iran and the United States were escalating again, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that if Iran attacks Israel, they will target infrastructure and energy facilities.
In remarks at a ceremony held at Israel’s Defense Ministry on Thursday to mark the approaching Jewish New Year, Katz claimed that Iran could take “desperate steps” because of severe economic pressure and concerns about the fall of its government.
“Any attack by Iran against Israel will free us from all restrictions. We will strike all infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, and return Iran to the Stone Age and darkness.”
Arguing that Israel was fully prepared for every possibility, both defensively and offensively, Katz said the military was ready to carry out the mission assigned to it.
New Israeli threats against Iran
In a statement the previous day, Katz had also said that Israeli aircraft were ready to take action against Iran. The Israeli defense minister had claimed that economic pressure could push the government in Tehran to attack Israel during the Jewish holidays.
Israel-based Walla reported the same day that the Israeli military had gone on high alert against a possible sudden Iranian attack and was preparing response scenarios either independently or in coordination with the United States.
Tensions between the United States and Iran escalate again
Katz’s remarks came after military tensions between the United States and Iran rose again at the beginning of September. U.S. Central Command announced on Tuesday that it had carried out strikes against targets including air defense systems, radars, naval assets and communications facilities belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks against locations used by U.S. forces in the region. The government in Tehran said that any new U.S. attack would face a “much harsher” response. Iran also stated that any area used in attacks against it could become a target for Iranian forces.
Washington and Tehran had agreed in June on a framework aimed at reducing tensions, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators. However, fighting resumed as disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and reciprocal military operations continued.
