Israel’s leaders are publicly signaling that their country is prepared to strike Iran for a third time, while a U.S.official tells Fox News Digital that Washington remains closely coordinated with Jerusalem. "The IDF is on high alert and prepared to resume the campaign, regain air superiority, and carry out an independent Israeli strike against Iran to eliminate threats — even for a third time," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Minister Israel Katz said Thursday at a graduation ceremony for the Israeli Air Force’s newest pilots."If we have to return, we will return with even greater force," Katz added.ISRAEL DEFENSE CHIEF WARNS STRIKES ON IRAN COULD RESUME SOON, SIGNALS CAMPAIGN NOT OVERU.S.
Central Command shared this footage in a July 8, 2026, press release about strikes against Iran. (CENTCOM)Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned Thursday that Israel’s campaign against Iran was not finished and said Tehran would not be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon, regardless of any agreement reached with Washington."The war has not yet ended," Netanyahu said at the air force ceremony."Alongside the old challenges, new challenges are emerging.
Axes are falling, and axes are rising.We are paying attention to this.
We are prepared for every scenario."Two Israeli sources told CNN Friday that the Trump administration does not currently want Israel to participate in the latest U.S.strikes against Iran. "Netanyahu would really want to join the U.S.
strikes, but the U.S.doesn’t want Israel involved at the moment," one of the sources told CNN.A U.S.
official denied the report, telling Fox News Digital, "This is fake news.The United States has a strong relationship with Israel, which contributed to the resounding success of Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury.
We remain in close coordination with our Israeli partners."Israel first launched a major campaign against Iran in June 2025, with the United States later joining the fighting by striking ...