Did US bombers use Israeli bases to strike Iran? Israel Katz drops a bombshell claim

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday claimed that US warplanes used Israeli military bases to carry out strikes on Iran, while warning that Israel would respond "with full force" if it came under attack.

Katz's remarks come as hostilities between the United States and Iran remain paused after 13 nights of US airstrikes on the Islamic republic. The latest round of fighting followed the collapse of an April ceasefire and has been on hold since Friday.

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Although Israel has not directly participated in the current phase of the conflict, which began in late February with a wave of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Katz suggested that Israel has played a logistical role.

"The fact is that, at the moment -- and this could change within an hour -- the Iranians are firing at everything in the region except one country: the State of Israel," Katz told Israel's right-wing Channel 14.

"They know that American aircraft are taking off from here to carry out strikes," he said.

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Katz, however, stressed that Israel remained prepared for any escalation, saying the current situation could change rapidly.

"This does not mean we know what will happen tomorrow; it means we know what our response will be. I announced it, the Prime Minister announced it, and we made it absolutely clear: if Israel comes under fire, we will strike back with full force," he said.

The comments came a day after US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the prospects of a negotiated peace agreement with Iran, with Washington and Tehran observing a third straight day without fresh attacks.

(With inputs from AFP)