Israel is prepared to resume military operations against Iran if necessary and would do so “with even greater force,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday, as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran fuelled concerns of a wider conflict.

“The army is ready and on alert for a resumption of fighting, in order to regain air superiority and strike again… in Iran, to eliminate threats, including a third time if necessary,” Katz said at a military ceremony.

“If we have to go back, we will go back, with even greater force,” he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the same ceremony that Iran had been weakened by Israel’s two previous military campaigns against it, but said the conflict was not yet over.

“The Iranian axis is weaker than ever before, while Israel is stronger than ever before,” Netanyahu said.

“We proved that the long arm of the Israeli Air Force can reach anywhere, from Yemen to Iran. Yet we must also acknowledge that the campaign is not over.”

Katz’s remarks came after new fighting broke out between the United States and Iran, raising fears of a return to full-scale war following an April ceasefire and a June US-Iran agreement to end hostilities.

The war began on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran that killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader and other senior officials.

It marked Israel’s second campaign against Iran, following a 12-day war in June 2025.