Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared on Thursday that his country is prepared to resume military operations against Iran, stating that it is awaiting a green light from the United States to launch devastating strikes aimed at crippling Iran's infrastructure. In a video statement, Katz said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are ready both defensively and offensively, with targets already identified.
"We are awaiting a green light from the United States, first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty...and additionally to return Iran to the Dark Age and the Stone Age by destroying key energy and electricity facilities and dismantling its national economic infrastructure," Katz said. The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region following the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli airstrikes on 28 February. His son succeeded him but has not appeared in public, fuelling speculation about his condition and whether he is still alive.
Ceasefire Talks and Regional Instability
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which took effect on 8 April, to create room for negotiations. However, no new round of talks has been confirmed, and the future of the discussions remains uncertain as tensions continue to rise around shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The war has spilled beyond Iran's borders, engulfing the region and leaving several thousand dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, while destabilising the global economy.
Katz emphasised that the next phase of attacks would be "different and lethal," targeting the most sensitive points. "This time, when the attack resumes, it will be different and lethal, adding devastating blows at the most sensitive points, following the tremendous strikes the Iranian terror regime has already sustained, that will shake and bring down its foundations," he said.
Israel-Lebanon Talks in Washington
Meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon are set to begin a second session of direct talks in Washington on Thursday to discuss extending a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The meeting between Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad and her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter is the second between the two diplomats in three decades. The US will be represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counsellor Michael Needham, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Wednesday that Hamadeh will propose an extension of the 10-day ceasefire that went into effect last Friday. She will also call for an end to Israeli home demolitions in villages and towns occupied by Israel. Lebanon was drawn into the war on 2 March when Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to avenge Khamenei's killing.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has urged Lebanon to work with Israel to disarm Hezbollah, describing the neighbouring country as a "failed state." "We don't have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved," Sa'ar said to Israel's ambassadors and diplomatic corps.
The ongoing conflict has significant implications for Europe, particularly regarding energy security and the stability of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. European leaders have been grappling with the crisis, as seen in recent discussions in Cyprus where EU leaders tackled the Hormuz crisis alongside other pressing issues. The situation also underscores the broader challenges facing European defence adaptation, as highlighted by Ukraine's drone innovation exposing slow responses in Europe.
