Defense Minister Israel Katz warns Iranian retaliation expected ‘in immediate future’ as Middle East braces for all-out war
Israel has launched what it called “preemptive strikes” against Iran’s nuclear facilities and military targets, with explosions reported across Tehran as the Jewish state declared a state of emergency amid warnings of imminent retaliation.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the dramatic escalation late Thursday, warning that a massive missile and drone assault targeting Israeli civilians was expected “in the immediate future” following the unprecedented strikes.
Iranian state media outlet IRNA reported repeated explosions could be heard in the capital Tehran, while Israeli officials said the Islamic Republic was caught completely off guard by the operation.
NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE
In a stunning revelation, the IDF said Iran has enough uranium to produce up to 15 nuclear weapons within days, making this the “point of no return” that forced Israel’s hand.
The IDF has started to attack dozens of Iranian nuclear sites,” military sources confirmed, adding that warning sirens have been activated across Israel to prepare the public for potential Iranian counter-attacks with ballistic missiles.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has entered an emergency security cabinet meeting as the crisis unfolds, with schools ordered to remain closed Friday as a precautionary measure.
IRAN CAUGHT OFF GUARD
Israeli military sources claimed Iran was taken completely by surprise, stating: “In the last 20 minutes, Iran was taken by surprise and they were attacked in places they didn’t expect.
The strikes reportedly targeted:
- Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities
- Military commanders and bases
- Air defense systems
- Ballistic missile production sites
According to defense officials, Iran had developed a plan with its proxies Hezbollah and Hamas to “destroy the State of Israel,” potentially including attacks via all borders, including Egypt and Jordan.
WEEKS OF WARNINGS
The dramatic escalation comes after weeks of mounting tensions and US intelligence warnings that Israel was preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, even as the Trump administration pursued diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.
US officials had obtained new intelligence suggesting Israel was making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, including observations of Israeli military movements and the completion of air exercises.
Multiple sources told CBS News that U.S. officials have been told Israel is fully ready to launch an operation into Iran, with President Trump acknowledging Thursday that a strike “could very well happen.
TRUMP’S DIPLOMATIC GAMBLE
The strikes represent a major break with President Trump, who has repeatedly urged Netanyahu to hold off on military action while pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran.
Just hours before the strikes, Trump had expressed diminishing confidence in the negotiations, telling reporters: “I’m less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them.”
The president had given Iran a 60-day deadline in mid-March to reach a deal – a deadline that passed weeks ago with talks appearing to stall over Iran’s refusal to completely abandon uranium enrichment.
MIDDLE EAST ON EDGE
The strikes have sent shockwaves across the region:
- The State Department authorized the evacuation of some personnel in Iraq and the Pentagon green-lighted the departure of military family members across the Middle East
- US embassies across the region were placed on high alert
- The US anticipates Iran could retaliate against American sites in neighboring Iraq
IRAN’S ARSENAL
Israeli officials warned that while Iran has not yet fired ballistic missiles in response, the Islamic Republic possesses thousands of them and could launch a devastating counterattack.
Defense Minister Katz had previously warned Iran’s leadership: “What we did to Hezbollah in Beirut, Hamas in Gaza, Assad in Damascus and the Houthis in Yemen—we will also do to you in Tehran.
NUCLEAR STAKES
The strikes come as international pressure on Iran’s nuclear program reached a boiling point:
- The IAEA reported Iran now has a 900-pound stockpile of highly enriched uranium
- Western intelligence suggests Iran could produce weapons-grade material within days
- Katz recently stated that “Iran today is more exposed than ever to damage to its nuclear facilities” following previous Israeli strikes that degraded its air defenses
REGIONAL FALLOUT
Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh had warned Wednesday that if nuclear talks fail and “a conflict is imposed on us,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “will target all U.S. bases in the host countries.
The strikes risk igniting a wider regional conflict, with Iran’s network of proxy forces – including what remains of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen – potentially joining any retaliation.
NETANYAHU’S CALCULATION
For Netanyahu, the timing appears calculated. Iran is at its weakest military position in decades after:
- Israel bombed its missile production facilities and air defenses in October
- The decimation of Hamas in Gaza
- The crushing of Hezbollah in Lebanon
- The fall of Assad in Syria
A senior Israeli official had told Reuters that “this may be a good moment for a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities” given the degraded state of Iran’s defenses and proxy network.
INTERNATIONAL REACTION
The international community is scrambling to respond to the crisis, with fears of a massive regional war that could draw in the United States and other powers.
The strikes mark the first time since the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) that Iran has faced such a sustained assault from a foreign adversary.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
As explosions continue to be reported across Iran and Israel braces for retaliation, the Middle East stands on the precipice of its most dangerous moment in years.
With schools closed, emergency shelters opened, and both militaries on highest alert, millions across the region are holding their breath for what comes next in this dramatic escalation.
The situation remains fluid and this is a developing story.
