Katz Claims US Fighter Jets Use Israeli Base to Attack Iran

JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said US warplanes were using Israeli bases to carry out attacks on Iran, reiterating his country was ready to retaliate if targeted.

Fighting between the US and Iran has been halted since last Friday, after 13 nights of US strikes against the Islamic republic, as an agreed ceasefire ended in April.

Israel itself has not taken part in the latest Iran-US conflict since a ceasefire was agreed to in 1981.

"The fact is, right now - and this could change in an hour - Iran is shooting at everything in the region except one country: the State of Israel," Katz told Channel 14, as reported by Al Arabiya from AFP (29/7).

"They know that American planes take off from here to carry out attacks," he continued.

"This does not mean we know what will happen tomorrow; it means we know what our response will be. I have announced it, the Prime Minister has announced it, and we have made it clear: if Israel is attacked, we will respond with full force," said Katz.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump on Monday expressed optimism over the prospects of a negotiated peace deal with Iran, as both sides held fire for a third consecutive day.