Israeli defence minister boasts that US warplanes used Israeli bases to attack Iran

US Air Force fighter jets and bombers flew from Israeli bases to attack Iran in recent weeks, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said, highlighting Washington’s use of Israel as a launchpad for its widening regional war.

“The Iranians know” that the aircraft took off from Israel, Katz told the right-wing Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 on Tuesday.

“The arrogant empire that threatened to destroy Israel has collapsed,” he said.

Katz then issued a fresh threat against Tehran: “We announced in the clearest terms that if Israel is fired upon, we will attack with all our might. We are prepared to strike Iran.”

Israel intercepted at least three drones near the Jordanian border on Monday and Tuesday.

“We know how to manage things, and we are prepared,” Katz said.

In the most recent round of fighting between Iran and the US, Israel has played a seemingly minimal role.

The US military and its Gulf allies have launched strikes on Iran but unlike during the initial conflict, which started in February, Israeli forces have not participated.

Iran has also focused its attacks on US interests in the Gulf rather than attacks on Israel.

Popular US critics of the war, such as the prominent podcaster and journalist Tucker Carlson, have suggested that Israel's plan on Iran was always to have the US do the bulk of the fighting.

The sentiment is shared by members of the Israeli government, including its influential finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich.

He described the renewed US war on Iran as the ideal outcome for Israel, provided Israelis do not have to fight it themselves.

"Israel has no interest in joining the campaign - the current situation is the best for us," Smotrich said on Tuesday in comments carried by Kan news.